Napoleon Hill's Success Masters

by Napoleon Hill

  After reading, spend a few minutes in relaxed meditation. Conceive of the words that you have read as seeping deeply into your mind, and picture them as spreading a spiritual bond throughout your entire being. In this quiescent state, allow your body to adjust itself further in muscular relaxation. As you undress your body to prepare for bed, also undress your mind. You wouldn’t think, would you, of climbing into bed fully dressed? But how often we get into bed with our minds encumbered by all manner of unhappy thoughts. Drop off one by one these weights that the mind has carried throughout the day so that it will be free of pressure and as comfortable as your unclothed body.

  Before getting into bed, stand at the window and reflect on the beauty of the night. Behold the moon sailing high in the heavens lighting up the clouds in silvery radiance. Contemplate the stars, or perhaps watch the snow slanting toward the earth or drifting high against the fence, or listen to the heavy padded quietness of the fog. Or put your head out the window and let the rain fall against your face for a moment. Let the beauty and the mystery of the world make itself felt in your thoughts. This type of thing will absorb in consciousness and make you peaceful.

  Avoid Self-Obsession

  Another step in relaxing is this: Don’t wear yourself out with yourself. Now, what do I mean by that? Simply this. Much tiredness is the result of extreme self-preoccupation, introspection, and concern about comforts, prerogatives, or position. All these things consume a large share of one’s energy. I’ve observed that people who have the time and strength to do things in a big way always give the least attention to themselves. Their wants are reduced to a minimum. They give themselves just enough time to care for physical requirements and to dress neatly. The main bulk of their time and energy is thus available to do the important jobs in life. So make a list of all the little things you do about your own person every day, and see how much of this minutia you can lop off.

  I would suggest that you practice becoming systematic. There’s a friend of mine who’s a very systematic man, although he once wasn’t that way at all, but now he is. He lays out his underwear, socks, shirt, and tie and he decides on his suit for the morning before going to bed. “Like a fireman,” he says, “I get into my regalia in half the time it formerly required.”

  I would also suggest that you avoid obsessing. Obsessions probably cause the greatest strain on energy of any personal disability. It is quite impossible to become practiced in relaxed living and enjoy restful rest until one overcomes those compulsive neuroses of an obsessional nature, which drive and harass people and make them really victims of life itself, victims of themselves. For example, I recall one poor fellow who felt that he had to perform a complicated ritual every day, and this was the ritual. He always went back to the sink three times to be sure the water was turned off. Then he tried the door three times to be sure it was locked. He constantly worried that unless he did this or that or some other thing that some hazy, terrible thing would happen. This poor fellow used up so much energy on these obsessions that he was a tired, worn-out man even before he tried to do his work. He was pretty successful, but he did it at the expenditure of an enormous amount of energy. Many people have these obsessions. What is the cure? Well, this man confessed, emptied out, and received forgiveness for some wrongdoings he had committed that he was trying mentally to cover up. These sins festering in the subconscious had created a guilty feeling and stimulated the unconscious, creating a persistent conviction that he should be punished. So by doing these things, this ritual, he was actually unconsciously punishing himself. He was actually pursuing himself to inflict punishment upon himself. A deep spiritual experience cured him of all his foolishness. He received forgiveness and forgave himself by accepting mercy with gratitude. So many people are tired because such emotional illnesses drive them to irrational compensation for wrongdoing. So get your guilt feeling cleared up. Then and then only can you truly relax and be restful.

  Practice Visualization

  Another technique, which I use constantly, and I’ve found it really very wonderful, I call memorized peacefulness. One time in the midst of activities, which I had foolishly allowed to become hectic, I went down to Atlantic City. From my window I could look out directly upon the sea as it washed gently on soft shores of sand. It was very quieting to behold this scene. The day was overcast with drifting fog and clouds. Imperturbably, the sea rolled shoreward with its deep-throated roar and ceaseless but perfect rhythm. Clean spew blew from its wave crest. Over the beach and climbing high against the sky and then sliding down the wind with ineffable grace, seagulls soared and dived. Everything in this scene was graceful, beautiful, and conducive to serenity.

  Its benign peacefulness began to lay a healing, clouding touch upon me, and I began to relax. I happened to close my eyes, and when I did so, I discovered a wonderful thing: that I could still visualize the scene just as I had beheld it. There it was as clear-cut in my mind as when actually viewed by the eye.

  It occurred to me then that the reason I could see it with my eyes closed was because my memory had absorbed it and was able to reproduce it in detail. Why then, I reasoned, could I not live again and again in this scene of quiet beauty even though bodily absent from the place? I began, therefore, the practice of deliberately visualizing quiet scenes of beauty in which I had once lived. Sometimes in the midst of active work I have found it profitable to stop for a minute or two and bring up out of memory’s storehouse scenes that had impressed me by their peace and loveliness, and experience, once again, the remarkable power of the quiet to soothe and to relax.

  I have found that when sleep comes with difficulty, I can actually induce slumber by visualizing out of memory scenes of quietness and peace. Lying in a relaxed manner in my bed, I practice going back as far as I can remember and recollect one by one truly peaceful experiences in my life, such as the time I gazed upon Mt. Blanc when the vast mountain was bathed in full moonlight. Or the radiant sun-kissed morning when our great white ship dropped anchor in the incredible blue waters off Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Or that mystic evening when I first watched the purple shadows fill the Grand Canyon to overflowing with hush. Or when I watched the sunlight sift through ancient maple trees onto a green lawn on a summer afternoon at my farm home. And I traversed these marvelous scenes of beauty and peace through the power of memory to recreate them. I drifted into a sound and untroubled sleep. So practice the memorized peacefulness. Now and then, let go of your cares and problems of the day and wander in memory among the most beautiful places and scenes in which you have ever lived. This will quiet you. It’s bound to, and as you yield yourself to the benign power of quiet visualization, you will find rest and relaxation that will be deep and lasting.

  ENTREPRENEUR TIP

  Having a tough time sleeping? Practice some visualization or meditation techniques before hitting the sheets. Envision yourself at peace, surrounded by an environment that you find relaxing and appealing. Or, envision yourself accomplishing the goals you have set out for the next day. You can also do a short meditation to quiet the mind. There are some useful apps available to help you power down through meditation, including Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer.

  Practice Selective Forgetfulness

  As a counterpart to memorized peacefulness, I also suggest that you become an expert forgetter. Practicing the art of forgetting has remarkable power to relax and relieve strain. Some people complain that they have trouble memorizing. Well, far more have trouble forgetting, inasmuch as many breakdowns result from overburdening the mind with unhappy memories of failure or frustration. For them, the unburdening process of forgetting becomes of tremendous importance.

  Many people lie in bed at night remembering what somebody said about them or did to them. They are hauntingly agitated by the recollection of something left undone or done poorly. As a result of this unpleasant cogitation, their minds, made miserably nervous, probe back into the past and they dwell on old things, old sins, old sorrows, and old unhappiness. T
hen the mind flips restlessly from one misery center to another, somewhat after the manner of the bee, except that it’s not taking honey from beautiful flowers of pleasant episodes, but rather sipping dissatisfaction from the rank weeds of past experience.

  A superlative aid to mental health, and especially becoming master of the art of forgetting, is forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are before you. Repeat this to yourself when your mind tends to dwell on unhappy things. This will help you to forget, and the extent to which you master the skill of forgetting, you will really enjoy untroubled and energy-renewing sleep. Such forgetting, of course, is not a negative but a positive process. It is the effective forcing of something destructive from the thoughts by a process of displacement. So, let go of every unhealthy thought. Cast everyone out, let peaceful thoughts into your mind, and have love in your heart toward everyone. Do all this, really do it, and you will become a master of the great skill of relaxation.

  ENTREPRENEUR ACTION ITEM

  Rewire Your Brain to Be More Positive

  Dr. Peale’s approach to positivity (and success, of course) is one that you can apply to your own life experiences, no matter your background or belief system. As he mentioned, putting yourself in a positive mindset can often be a matter of reimagining how you think, believe, and practice being mindful. It’s almost as if you can rewire your brain to leave the negative behind or, at the very least, use those negative thoughts as a jumping-off point for a new, more positive way of thinking. Whether you realize it or not, the negative experiences you have lived through often influence your decisions. Your brain learns from difficult situations and painful memories, and these experiences get sealed into your brain.

  Your brain naturally wants to do whatever it can to protect you by avoiding a recurrence of the negative experience. However, continually focusing on the negative can hinder our ability to find the positive and live a happy life.

  Success is based on recognizing and going after opportunities as they present themselves—and that often requires having the inner fortitude to take a chance and navigate difficult waters. The more you exude positivity, the better your chances of finding lasting success and happiness. All it takes is a little training and focus, and you can rewire your brain toward the positive. Here are some tips from Entrepreneur that you can practice along with Dr. Peale’s method:

  Release Your Inner Negativity

  If you allow yourself to dwell on the negative, then habitual skepticism will run your life and influence your decisions. You are effectively resigning yourself to a cycle of hesitation and distrust. It is hard, if not impossible, to build success when you have resigned yourself to negativity. The first step is to let your negativity go. It’s time to focus on the affirmative. Take control of your mind and direct it toward the positive. You can start doing this by deliberately and frequently centering your thoughts on things that make you happy. Stop letting negatives limit your potential and drag you down. Start consciously taking a different approach to your thinking. One simple tip is to spend a moment calming your mind when you are feeling frazzled, stressed, or distracted. Slow things down. Take a few deep breaths and empty your mind of negative thoughts. Focus on filling your lungs with air. Now you are ready for a positive reboot.

  Retrain Your Brain

  Even after years of subconsciously focusing on the negative, it is possible to retrain your brain to perceive and focus on the positive. The idea is to recognize and center your thoughts on the silver linings that are embedded in any negative situation. The first step is to become aware of your thinking patterns. Start paying more attention to the flow of your thoughts. Is your brain preoccupied by constantly focusing on negative outcomes? Are you stuck in a loop of cynical thinking? Recognize that negative thinking isn’t going to support you in creating long-term success. You need a balanced mind as you decide on which opportunities are the best to take.

  The next step is to retrain your brain to see positive patterns. Instead of scrutinizing a situation to spot the negatives, we need to teach our brains to redirect our thoughts and scan for the positives. One simple way to begin doing this is to scan for three daily positive things. Every day, make a list of three good things that happened to you and reflect on what caused them to happen. Focus on the little wins you have each day and use those to empower and motivate yourself.

  Pivot from Negative Thoughts

  Once you recognize that you are caught in a continuous loop of negative reoccurring thoughts, it’s time to break free by pivoting. Ask yourself what the opposite of the negative thought is. If you were to turn 180 degrees away from this antagonistic thinking, where would you find yourself? Focus on thinking about something from a positive perspective. Practice visualizing a more positive outcome. Then think about the steps you need to take to make that happen. If you tend to be anxious or apprehensive, pay attention to when you are feeling that way. What causes those emotions? When you feel yourself slipping into a negative cycle of anxiety or worry, remind yourself that these negative thoughts are holding you back from making positive choices in your life. Consider how you can reframe your thoughts into a more positive perspective. Find a confident and assertive alternative to a negative impulse.

  Recognize that your mind will want to slip back into old patterns, and remind yourself that you’re reconditioning yourself to have positive thoughts and take positive actions. Once you develop the habit of pivoting toward the positive, your brain will become predisposed to doing so.

  Pay It Forward

  When we are nice to others—when we engage in acts of kindness and make others feel good—we boost our own happiness. Even small acts that make others smile can bring us joy. Doing something nice is also a powerful way to halt a negativity loop. For instance, you may be feeling anxious about an upcoming meeting or stressed about a recent interaction with a friend or colleague, and your usual pattern of thinking is to worry about it. Instead of fretting, try doing something compassionate for another person. You’ll find that taking a moment to do a small favor, buy someone a cup of coffee, or help a stranger out can give you a little boost. It’s like an instant shot of happiness. Use those positive feelings to channel your thinking into a positive pattern.

  Bring Positivity into the Present

  To truly reprogram your mind to be more positive, you have to bring positivity into your everyday life. You have to focus on having a positive outlook in your present moment. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Right now. You can do this through the practice of mindfulness, which is being aware of your thoughts and feelings in the present moment. It’s about recognizing your emotions, what your body is sensing and what you are thinking about, and allowing these sensations to occur without judging them.

  You can then harness this awareness to redirect your thoughts. Once you get into the habit of mindfulness, you are no longer allowing your subconscious mind to drive your decisions. You are teaching your brain to sense when you are slipping into negativity and take action toward the positive. It allows you to focus your thoughts and attention toward a more balanced and positive approach. To help redirect your thoughts, try writing down a list of questions you can ask yourself to bring positivity into your present moment. Here are some examples:

  What can I feel grateful about right now?

  What can I do right now that is fun or gives me joy?

  How can I demonstrate love or gratitude right now?

  What is something I can do to surprise someone or give someone else happiness right now?

  As you get into the habit of continually checking in with yourself and directing your thoughts toward the positive, it will eventually become second nature.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Theory of Compensation

  Ralph Waldo Emerson With comments by W. Clement Stone

  Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet in the mid-19th century. He wrote about such topics as self-reliance, nature, conduct of life,
and representative men. The philosophical movement called the transcendentalist movement centered on Emerson as well. The transcendentalist movement taught people to view the objects in the world as small versions of the whole universe and to trust their individual intuitions.

  The theory of compensation that Emerson wrote about was often referred to by Napoleon Hill. In one remark, Hill said, “The best compensation for doing things is the ability to do more.” The law of compensation simply means that each person is compensated in the manner in which he or she has contributed. It can also be known as the principle of sowing and reaping.

  The essay “Compensation” was first published in 1841 and played a major role in Napoleon Hill’s writings on success. Look for comments sprinkled throughout by W. Clement Stone, father of the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) movement, to provide additional insight and application.

  A NOTE FROM W. CLEMENT STONE

  For ten years, beginning in 1952, I managed Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich. Nate Libermann, a manufacturers’ representative, was one of the members of our first “Science of Success” course. He was a generous, gentle, kindly, and good man. Nate was a student of philosophy and had a keen interest in modern, inspirational, and self-help action books, such as Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. He had developed a particular interest in the functioning of the conscious and subconscious mind. I can hear him tell me, “Share with others a part of what you possess that is good and desirable.” And I shall never forget his statement, “When you share with another ideas or ideals, you give them away, but you still keep them for yourself.” It was Nate Lieberman who first introduced me to Emerson, when he gave me and every member of the class Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays. Over the years, he shared with me many additional books, such as Charles Baudouin’s Suggestion and Auto Suggestion, Thomas J. Hudson’s The Law of Psychic Phenomena, and Joseph Marie Jacquard’s Invention and the Unconscious. Emerson, however, was his favorite author, and “Compensation” was his favorite essay. I think you will greatly benefit from it.