Think and Grow Rich - Contest Update

Posted on July 31, 2006

“Three Rules of Work:
Out of clutter find simplicity;
From discord find harmony;
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
- Albert Einstein

In the free audio I mentioned in my last post, Mark Joyner is cited as asking rooms of seminar attendees three questions.

First he asks everyone at the room to stand if theyâ€™ve heard of the book Think and Grow Rich. Everyone stands.
Then he asks if they think the book could help attain their desires (I’m paraphrasing here). Everyone remains standing.
Mark then asks the room if they can “…remember and recite the daily recital that Hill was empathetic about, that everyone must repeat every day, without fail, to achieve success…”, if they can’t, they should sit down.

This is all recalled from memory by Matt Gill in the audio, but I’ve heard that Mark has done this at more than one seminar…

Now I posed this challenge to over 4,500 people by email. Keep in mind that those 4,500 are all success minded, entrepreneurs or budding entrepreneurs, and I’ll hazard a safe guess and say that likely 4,000 of them have read Think and Grow Rich at some point in their lives.

The contest ran for 48 hours and the prize was for 2 free books or a $25 amazon gift certificate. Perhaps the prize wasn’t enough to yank my dear readers out of their shells and drop me a note.

More likely though, is that even though we believe in the teachings of Think and Grow Rich, we just never got around to doing the one thing Napolean Hill asks us to do everyday. One thing that will move us to success faster and more sure-footedly than any other tactic, technique or strategy.

First I’m going to talk about the vast number of answers, that to me appeared wrong, because I found no reference for daily recitation of it in my version…

I did however found reference online to this recitation, but I’m unconvinced of the validity of this being Hill’s idea, or the webmasters.

My concern began with the reference on the same page - that Mark Joyner’s Irresistible Idea is a modern ‘Think and Grow Rich’. While Joyner’s book is about business marketing and branding, Hill’s book is about personal mastery. I just don’t see the connection. It was on that site where I read that we should read, memorize and recite Hill’s Self Confidence Formula daily.

Here is the Self Confidence Formula. I honestly don’t believe that this is what Mark was asking his attendees to recite outloud…

Napolean Hill’s Self Confidence Formula from Think and Grow Rich

First. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality, therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.

Third. I know through the principle of auto-suggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it, therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF CONFIDENCE.

Fourth. I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them and in myself.

I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory (truly?) , and repeat it aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence my THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.

EGADS! Who has time for that?

Now for the answer I was looking for…

If Mark’s room of people had remained standing and spouting out the success recital Hill had asked his students to memorize the room would have been both noisy and chaotic.

Why? Because the answer is as individual as you are!

It’s never enough to just read a book. Or watch a training video. Or memorize a verse. Or listen to an audio - and think you will be transformed, or rich, or successful. Those final products are a direct result of performing the work, expending the effort, and believing. No. Believing enough to follow through.

One of my readers, Lynn from ScreenSaverQuotes.com, got it right. She didn’t share her personal statement, but was right on the money when she said this:

“…it seems that it’s our own personal statements of purpose or desire that we create for ourselves that we’re supposed to be reciting every day (with feeling) - twice every day to be exact. It should be a statement of whatever we desire to…”

Granted this recital is about 7 sentences long - a chunk to memorize - but it works time and time again.

Lynn also said:

“…I do have a statement…I’ve used this method several times for various things over the past few years and it does really work. The tricky part is truly believing that it will work…It’s not easy but it is worth it - it feels really great when it works!”

Is It Time to Revisit Think and Grow Rich?

If you want to reference this entire stream on your own, you’ll find Hill’s exercise in the chapter titled Auto-Suggestion.

I’d type it out for you here but it does little good to you unless you actually do the work, to create the statement, and move towards it.

This book is now in public domain and there are a variety of reprints, rewrites and workbooks created for it, so I can’t tell you specifically where you’ll find the reference in your copy. You can also google “free pdf Think and Grow Rich” and download a copy of the entire book it from a number of websites.

That about wraps this segment up. I’ve got a few more contest ideas in mind for the future so stay tuned.

If you want to see more of Mark Joyner in action, you can now grab a free video of his latest talk at Mark Joyner - while you’re there sign up for the audio download and that way you’ll be informed of all future free videos, business makeover dvd contests, and content.

You’ll see a comment there from me, talking about the true brilliance of Mark as mentor, the gist of which is that Mark has a way of teaching concepts and strategies that is easily assimilated in our brains. This allows us to come up with our own business solutions while empowering each one of us who listens.

Listen carefully. Do the work. Enjoy the rewards.

Yours in business success!

Laura Childs

p.s. I must give honorable mention to one other reader Hannes. Hannes knew what both Joyner and Hill were asking for, but hadn’t done the work. Hannes said: “Are you talking about the statement that you have to read out loud twice a day about how much money you want to make, when you’re going to get it and how you’re going to get it?”

It really is as simple as that - 10 minutes to write your statement, 3 minutes a day to recite it until it becomes a part of you.

p.p.s: I can’t help to add here, that if you haven’t seen Lynn’s site or tried her screensavers you should click over there now. These are adware free and gorgeous. Plus they are loaded with motivational sayings that keep you on track! The next time your office phone rings let your screensavers run and instead of being distracted by the call you’ll be energized and refreshed! motivational screen savers.

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