Napoleon Hill

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Chapter 7: Organized Planning

• If the first plan which I adopt does not work successfully, replace it with a new plan, if this new plan fails to work, replace it, in turn with still another, and so on, until I find a plan which Does Work. Right here is the point at which the majority of men meet with failure, because of their lack of Persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail
  • I need persistence with organized planning. The actions that I take may not necessarily produce the results that I want, but I will gain information, insights, and objective data which I can use to go back to my plan and repeat until I begin getting success
• Temporary defeat should mean only one thing, the certain knowledge that there is something wrong with my plan. Millions of men go through life in misery and poverty, because they lack a sound plan through which to accumulate a fortune
• Broadly speaking, there are two types of people in the world. One type is known as Leaders, and the other as Followers. Decide at the outset whether I intend to become a leader in my chosen calling, or remain a follower. The difference in compensation is vast. The follower cannot reasonably expect the compensation to which a leader is entitled, although many followers make the mistake of expecting such pay
• It is no disgrace to be a follower. On the other hand, it is no credit to remain a follower. Most great leaders began in the capacity of followers. They became great leaders because they were Intelligent Followers. With few exceptions, the man who cannot follow a leader intelligently, cannot become an efficient leader. The man who can follow a leader most efficiently, is usually the man who develops into leadership most rapidly. An intelligent follower has many advantages, among them the Opportunity to Acquire Knowledge From His Leader
  • If you want to become a good teacher, become a good student. If you want to become a good student, become a good teacher
• The following are important factors of leadership:
  1. Unwavering Courage based on knowledge of self, and of one's occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long
  2. Self-Control. The man who cannot control himself, can never control others. Self-control sets mighty example for one's followers, which the most intelligent will emulate
  3. A Keen Sense of Justice. Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers
  4. Definiteness of Decision. The man who wavers in his decision, shows that he is not sure himself. He cannot lead others successfully
  5. Definiteness of Plans. The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite planning is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks
  6. The Habit of Doing More Than Paid For. One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers
  7. A Pleasing Personality. No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a Pleasing Personality
  8. Sympathy and Understanding. The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems
  9. Mastery of Detail. Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader's position
  10. Willingness to Assume Full Responsibility. The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed
  11. Cooperation. The successful leader must understand, and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for Power, and power calls for Cooperation
• How to get the exact position I desire:
  1. Decide Exactly what kind of job I want. If the job doesn't already exist, perhaps I can create it
  2. Choose the company, or individual for whom I wish to work
  3. Study my prospective employer, as to policies, personnel, and chances of advancement
  4. By analysis of myself, my talents and capabilities, figure What I Can Offer, and plan ways and means of giving advantages, services, developments, ideas that I believe I can successfully deliver
  5. Forget about "a job." Forget whether or not there is an opening. Forget the usual routine of "have you got a job for me?" Concentrate on what I can give
  6. Once I have my plan in mind, arrange with an experienced writer to put it on paper in neat form, and in full detail
  7. Present it to the proper person with authority and he will do the rest. Every company is looking for men who can give something of value, whether it be ideas, services, or "connections."
• Remember the "QQS" formula, but do more - Apply It As A Habit!
  1. Quality of service shall be construed to mean the performance of every detail, in connection with my position, in the most efficient manner possible, with the object of greater efficiency always in mind
  2. Quantity of service shall be understood to mean the Habit of rendering all the services of which I am capable, at all times, with the purpose of increasing the amount of service rendered as greater skill is developed through practice and experience. Emphasis is again placed on the word Habit
  3. Spirit of service shall be construed to mean the Habit of agreeable, harmonious conduct which will induce cooperation from associates and fellow employees
• Millions of men and women throughout the nation are still engaged in this popular pastime of trying to Get without Giving
  • I give value first if I want to really produce the results of monetary wealth There is still but one dependable method of accumulating, and legally holding riches, and that is by rendering useful services

Chapter 8: Decision

• Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of Reaching Decisions Promptly, and of changing these decisions Slowly, if, and when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decision, If At All, very slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often
  • Speed of implementation is acting upon an idea as soon as it is received
• Procrastination, the opposite of Decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer
  • Procrastination lowers my self-esteem, it lowers my self-confidence, it wastes time, and it does not demonstrate faith and a burning desire
• The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are, generally, easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. They permit the newspapers and the "gossiping" neighbors to do their "thinking" for them
• Keep my own counsel, when I begin to put into practice the principles described here, by reaching my own decisions and following them. Take no one into my confidence, Except the members of my "Master Mind" group, and be very sure in my selection of this group, that I choose Only those who will be in Complete Sympathy And Harmony With My Purpose
• It is characteristic of people who have but a smattering or a veneer of knowledge to try to give the impression that they have much knowledge. Such people generally do Too Much talking, and Too Little listening. Keep my eyes and ears wide open - and my mouth Closed, if I wish to acquire the habit of prompt Decision
• The value of decisions depends upon the courage required to render them. The great decisions, which served as the foundation of civilization, were reached by assuming great risks, which often meant the possibility of death
• Those who reach Decisions promptly and definitely, now what they want, and generally get it. The leaders in every walk of life Decide quickly, and firmly. That is the major reason why they are leaders. The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going
• Indecision is a habit which usually begins in youth. The habit takes on permanency as the youth goes through graded school, high school, and even through college, without Definiteness of Purpose