Title–Think and Grow Rich
Author–Napoleon Hill
Genre–Non-Fiction
Why I read this book:
There is a difference between just reading something and reading something to comprehend it. I bring this up because I read “Think and Grow Rich” almost 20 years ago and it was simply to say I read it because it was a popular book for business people to add to their personal library. I will even take it a step further because I did not actually “read” the book but I listened to the audio book in my car because, at the time, I was on the road most of the day and it was a convenient way to knock out books I wanted to “read” and it passed the time. Within the first couple months of being in Federal Prison Camp, I decided I needed to READ this book again. This book was written in 1937 after 20 years of research completed by Napoleon Hill with funding and contacts provided by Andrew Carnegie. The purpose was to create an instruction manual that anyone could follow by duplicating the path to Riches previously plowed by the most successful men in the Country. In my opinion, “Riches” is whatever YOU determine it is. Obviously, Napoleon Hill uses it as how to become wealthy but the process outlined in this book can help ANYONE become Rich in any number of ways; from becoming the best school teacher to helping prisoners navigate their way through the Justice System and set themselves up for early release!!
What I learned:
The sheer volume of successful business people TODAY who have read and call a book published in 1937 “The greatest business/self-help book ever published” is astounding. What did napoleon Hill discover over 80 years ago that STILL applies today?
Within the first handful of pages, Napoleon Hill tells the reader there is a “Secret” that will be made apparent to anyone who reads this book. He then breaks down the ten steps toward Riches, defining one step per chapter. The key is knowing the “Secret” that then allows the 10 steps to come alive.
In my opinion, the “Secret” is Definiteness of Purpose. Before anyone can have a Burning Desire to succeed, or have Faith, Specialized Knowledge, or apply ANY of the 10 keys to Riches, they HAVE to have a Definiteness of Purpose. The WHAT must precede the HOW. Simply saying “I want a million dollars in my bank account” is not enough. “I WILL own the #1 selling luxury car dealership in Michigan” is a good start. Napoleon Hill then describes how you use that purpose with Burning Desire to achieve Riches.
The reason why Think and Grow Rich has maintained its relevance for decades is because it ties your success to your own way of thinking–AKA Visualization. I believe Napoleon Hill published a medical breakthrough without having a lick of knowledge about how the human brain can effectively use Visualization to change ones life. Being able to “think something into existence” may sound like “Hocus Pokus Voodoo” but everyone from professional baseball players using visualization of a successful at-bat to medical professionals visualizing the surgery before they step into the operating room uses this technique to increase success.
How reading this book will help me succeed:
“Think and Grow Rich” will always be one of, if not THE most important books I will ever read. First, and foremost, the power of visualizing your future while using your Burning Desire to succeed as fuel is the most timeless advice ever given. How can you prepare for success, and “Riches” for that matter, if you do not know what the end result looks like? Top tier self-help experts like Tony Robbins all make similar suggestions that Napoleon Hill did:
–Write down your goals and be specific.
–Say them out loud so it sinks into your belief system.
–Put the goals you have written out somewhere like the bathroom so you see them morning and night. –Visualize as if you are already in possession of the “Riches” and are successful.
Second, Napoleon Hill calls it a Mastermind Group but I have also seen it called a Board of Directors today. The point is the same–you MUST surround yourself with a group of individuals that believe in your vision, share ideas based on their experience, and also will be honest with you if you ever head off the path of “Riches”. Lastly, being in prison , the one thing you have never had more of in your life is TIME TO YOURSELF. Every day
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Napoleon Hill did:
–Write down your goals and be specific.
–Say them out loud so it sinks into your belief system.
–Put the goals you have written out somewhere like the bathroom so you see them morning and night.
–Visualize as if you are already in possession of the “Riches” and are successful.
Second, Napoleon Hill calls it a Mastermind Group but I have also seen it called a Board of Directors today. The point is the same–you MUST surround yourself with a group of individuals that believe in your vision, share ideas based on their experience, and also will be honest with you if you ever head off the path of “Riches”. Lastly, being in prison , the one thing you have never had more of in your life is TIME TO YOURSELF. Every day you have hours to read and write but also to Visualize about your future when you get out of prison: –How do I respond in a job interview regarding my prison time?
–What kind of job do I see myself doing?
–How do I make contacts for a Mastermind Group?
If you are like me and have a Burning Desire to NEVER return to prison AND be MORE successful AFTER being a convicted felon, reading “Think and Grow Rich” is mandatory reading. Trust me, you have the time.
About Me:
My name is Jeff Piecka and I was sentenced to 34 months in a Federal Prison Camp in Oxford, WI, after committing and pleading guilty to a white collar crime several years ago. Before self-surrendering on June 6, 2020, I promised my wife and family that I WILL exit prison a better husband, son, brother, Christian, future employee, and overall better member of society because I am going to better myself in three ways: 1) Physically–Not just for vanity purposes but a better operating body equals a better operating mind. 2) Mentally–Reading books, stories, papers, and magazines that educate and elevate my mind and expand my vocabulary.
3) Spiritually–For ME, this means learning from the Bible but it can also mean whatever “Greater Good” you believe in.
Shortly after self-surrendering and reading Michael Santos’s book “Earning Freedom–Conquering a 45 Year Prison Term”, it inspired me to want to help just 1 person who is possibly heading to prison so I started emailing my family Posts that my sister uses to post as a Blog on Reddit dot com called “Letters From Federal Prison”. I believe to date it has close to 7,000 views and shares plus there are now 3 comments from people advising the Blog has helped them. This has motivated me to keep writing (which I have NEVER done anything like this before) and I REALLY want to help more people when I return to society next year.
