Think and Grow Rich – Principle 1: Burning Desire

Napoleon Hill wrote his book “Think and Grow Rich” almost 100 years ago (1937) and his principles are still as valid today as they were back then.

It is one of the best books ever written and if you want to be successful in life, this is THE ONE to read!

This book was written during a period of 20-years (before internet and cheap flights etc….), whilst Napoleon was researching and interviewing 500 of the most successful people in the world. The likes of: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Charles M. Schwab, Andrew Carnegie etc. Andrew Carnegie was the inspirational source behind the idea but unfortunately he did not live to see the finished work of Napoleons great efforts.

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My intention here is to give you a short summary of what his principles are but also my personal reflections followed with some action points, but before we start, let’s read one of Hills famous quotes on success:

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“No one may achieve success without first knowing precisely what he wants. Study any person who is known to be a permanent success and you will find that he has a Definite Major Goal; he has a plan for the attainment of this goal; he devotes the major portion of his thoughts and his efforts to the attainment of this purpose.”

– Napoleon Hill

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Hill’s main principles for success:

1. Burning Desire
2. Faith
3. Autosuggestion
4. Specialized Knowledge
5. Imagination
6. Organized Planning
7. Decision
8. Persistence
9. Power of the Master Mind
10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation
11. The Subconscious Mind
12. The Brain
13. The Sixth Sense

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Principle 1: Burning Desire (or Chief Aim)

Having a Burning Desire is the main principle of Think and Grow Rich so if you get this one right, there is nothing stopping you from accomplishing what ever you want in life!

If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand….

In this section, Hill states numerous times, why you will materialize that for which you have a burning desire. You have to make sure you have a clear mental picture (or physical) and look at it and feel the emotions you would have if you were already there. Do this several times per day to properly ingrain it in your mind!

This principle is not about passion, nor motivation, it is solely about that burning desire for what you really want. If you burn your bridges, never retreat you will get everything you can imagine in life. Any obstacle which comes your way, will be just that, a small obstacle along the way!

“Those who don’t make any mistakes are the ones who never try anything!”

It does not matter what you wish for, this can truly be applied to anything in life but the example given below is linked to money.

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Hill talks about six steps to take in order to make it your reality:

1. Fix the exact amount of money you want in your mind!
2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money.
3. Establish a fixed date for when it shall be yours.
4. Create a plan and start to act on it immediately regardless of whether you are ready or not!
5. Write a concise statement of the exact amount, time limit for it, what you intend to give in exchange and the plan for accomplishing it!
6. Read your written statement twice per day (morning and evening) and when you do, you have to see and feel yourself being in possession of the money already!

This part is the most crucial part throughout the whole book!!

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My reflections and take on the principle of Burning Desire:

This point really resonates with me as I don’t see how you cannot reach your goal if you truly have a burning desire (obsession) to accomplish that which you want to accomplish. Be sure to use your friends; determination, will, persistence, strategy and focus and I am 100% confident that nothing can stop you!

If you have not yet found what your burning desire is, I would recommend you to read my book “Where am I heading”. I will help you reflect on what is truly important to you and what you really want out of life. Another thing I would recommend is for you to read this post on how to find your passion, if you are still trying to figure out what it is.

Even if you have a big enough goal, a burning desire, you will also need to have a big enough WHY when the going gets tough which it inevitably will if you aim high! To be honest this has also been my challenge but I am aware of it and that is why I am training myself every day to strengthen my willpower. Check out my blog post on Creating a Winning Mindset to learn more. 

I know exactly what to do to get me into “beast mode” and then nothing can stop me! How you find that is individual but it is something that you need to have and should be able to draw upon when you really need it. Just by knowing that you can do that at any point, will keep you going. A recommendation here would be to attend an Unleash The Power Within (UPW) event with Tony Robbins as he helps you find that inner strength and how to snap into that mindset in an instance.

Hill’s six steps make perfect sense to me because if you don’t know where you are going or how to get there, you never will! Honestly, if you follow those steps you will reach your goals and dreams, period! 

Just ask yourself this question: is it possible to “fail” if you have a burning desire and always get back up again after every challenge and just keep on going because you know WHY you want to reach that obsessive goal of yours??

NO WAY I SAY!

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Actions to take:

• Write down your most important goals
• Take the steps as per above or of course use my complete step-by-step guide in our Visions & Goals Section to make it easier

I really urge you to get his book and read it over and over again and use a pen to highlight, write in the margins, whatever you need to do in order to properly indulge in all the wisdom. Get the book here!

– Jakob

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“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”

– Napoleon Hill

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