Napoleon Hill

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Chapter 9: Persistence

• Persistence is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting Desire into its monetary equivalent. The basis of persistence is the Power of Will
  • Will-power and desire, when properly combined, make an irresistible pair. Men who accumulate great fortunes are generally known as cold-blooded, and sometimes ruthless. Often they are misunderstood. What they have is will-power, which they mix with persistence, and place back of their desires to insure the attainment of their objectives
• The majority of people are ready to throw their aims and purposes overboard, and give up at the first sign of opposition or misfortune. A few carry on Despite all opposition, until they attain their goal
• Poverty is attracted to the one whose mind is favorable to it, as money is attracted to him whose mind has been deliberately prepared to attract it, and through the same laws
  • Poverty consciousness will voluntarily seize the mind which is not occupied with the money consciousness
• Those who can "take it" are bountifully rewarded for their Persistence. They receive, as their compensation, whatever goal they are pursuing. That is not all! They receive something infinitely more important than material compensation- the knowledge that "Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage."
• Persistence is a state of mind, therefore it can be cultivated. Like all states of mind, persistence is based upon definite causes, among them these:
  1. Definiteness of Purpose. Knowing what one wants is the first and, perhaps, the most important step towards the development of persistence. A strong motive forces one to surmount many difficulties
  2. Desire. It is comparatively easy to acquire and to maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire
  3. Self-Reliance. Belief in one's ability to carry out a plan encourages one to follow the plan through with persistence. (Self-reliance can be developed through the principle described in the chapter on auto-suggestion)
  4. Definiteness of Plans. Organized plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence
  5. Accurate Knowledge. Knowing that one's plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; "guessing" instead of "knowing" destroys persistence
  6. Cooperation. Sympathy, understanding, and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence
  7. Will-Power. The habit of concentrating one's thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose, leads to persistence
  8. Habit. Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which it feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. Everyone who has seen active services in war knows this
• Symptoms of lack of persistence
  1. Failure to recognize and to clearly define exactly what one wants
  2. Procrastination, with or without cause. (Usually backed up with a formidable array of alibis and excuses)
  3. Lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge
  4. Indecision, the habit of "passing the buck" on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely. (Also backed by alibis)
  5. The habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems
  6. Self-satisfaction. There is but little remedy for this affliction, and no hope for those who suffer from it
  7. Indifference, usually reflected in one's readiness to compromise on all occasions, rather than meet opposition and fight it
  8. The habit of blaming others for one's mistakes, and accepting unfavorable circumstances as being unavoidable
  9. Weakness of Desire, due to neglect in the choice of Motives that impel action
  10. Willingness, even eagerness, to quit at the first sign of defeat. (Based upon one or more of the 6 basic fears)
  11. Lack of Organized Plans, placed in writing where they may be analyzed
  12. The habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or to grasp opportunity when it presents itself
  13. Wishing instead of Willing
  14. The habit of compromising with Poverty instead of aiming at riches. General absence of ambition to be, to do, and to own
  15. Searching for all the shortcuts to riches, trying to Get without Giving a fair equivalent, usually reflected in the habit of gambling, endeavoring to drive "sharp" bargains
  16. Fear of Criticism, failure to create plans and to put them into action, because of what other people will think, do, or say, this enemy belongs at the head of the list, because it generally exists in one's subconscious mind, where its presence is not recognized
• How to develop persistence
  1. A Definiteness of Purpose backed by Burning Desire for its fulfillment
  2. A Definite Plan, expressed in Continuous Action
  3. A Mind Closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends, and acquaintances
  4. A Friendly Alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both Plan and Purpose

Chapter 10: Power of the Master Mind

• The "Master Mind" may be defined as "Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose."
  • Connecting with others and coordinating with them in the spirit of mutual benefit and value, based on what value is to each other
  • The psychic phase of the Master Mind principle is much more abstract, much more difficult to comprehend, because it has reference to the spiritual forces with which the human race, as a whole, is not well acquainted. I may catch a significant suggestion from this statement: "No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind."