Think and Grow Rich

1. Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."

Burning desire is essential. It's not enough to simply wish for success; you must cultivate a burning desire that consumes your thoughts and drives your actions. This desire must be specific, measurable, and have a defined timeline.

To transform desire into reality:

• Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire
• Determine what you intend to give in return
• Establish a definite date for its acquisition
• Create a definite plan and take immediate action
• Write a clear, concise statement of your desire
• Read your written statement aloud twice daily

Successful people like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford achieved greatness because their desire was not just a wish, but an obsession that drove them to persist through countless failures until they succeeded.

2. Faith: Visualizing and Believing in the Attainment of Desire

"Faith is the head chemist of the mind. When faith is blended with the vibration of thought, the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence."

Faith amplifies desire. It's the visualization and unwavering belief in the attainment of your desire. Faith is a state of mind that can be induced through affirmation and repeated instructions to the subconscious mind.

Developing faith:

• Encourage positive emotions (desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance, hope)
• Eliminate negative emotions (fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition, anger)
• Use affirmations to influence your subconscious mind
• Visualize yourself already in possession of your desire

The author cites examples like Mahatma Gandhi, who demonstrated the power of faith by inspiring millions to follow his vision of a free India, despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

3. Auto-Suggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind

"Plain, unemotional words do not influence the subconscious mind. You will get no appreciable results until you learn to reach your subconscious mind with thoughts, or spoken words which have been well emotionalized with belief."

Harness auto-suggestion. This principle involves the voluntary guidance of your thoughts, both verbally and mentally. It's the medium of communication between your conscious reasoning mind and your subconscious mind.

Effective auto-suggestion:

• Formulate a clear, concise statement of your desire
• Repeat this statement aloud with emotion and belief
• Visualize yourself already in possession of your desire
• Practice consistently, especially before sleep and upon waking

The author emphasizes that mere repetition of words is not enough; the thoughts must be infused with emotion and belief to effectively influence the subconscious mind.

4. Specialized Knowledge: Personal Experiences or Observations

"Knowledge will not attract money, unless it is organized, and intelligently directed, through practical plans of action, to the definite end of accumulation of money."

Knowledge must be applied. General knowledge alone is insufficient for success. You need specialized knowledge, intelligently organized and applied through practical plans of action.

Acquiring and using specialized knowledge:

• Identify the specific knowledge you need to achieve your goals
• Develop a plan to acquire this knowledge (formal education, apprenticeships, self-study)
• Surround yourself with experts (create a "Master Mind" group)
• Continuously update and expand your knowledge
• Apply your knowledge through concrete plans and actions

The author uses examples like Henry Ford, who lacked formal education but succeeded by surrounding himself with people who possessed the specialized knowledge he needed.

5. Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind

"Man's only limitation, within reason, lies in his development and use of his imagination."

Cultivate imagination. Your imagination is the workshop where all plans are created. There are two types: synthetic imagination (rearranging existing ideas) and creative imagination (creating entirely new ideas).

Harnessing imagination:

• Regularly exercise your imagination by envisioning your desired outcomes
• Use synthetic imagination to combine existing ideas in new ways
• Tap into creative imagination through relaxation and focused concentration
• Write down and act upon the ideas generated by your imagination
• Study the lives of innovative thinkers for inspiration

The author provides examples of successful individuals who used their imagination to create wealth, such as the story of the "enchanted kettle" (Coca-Cola) and the Wright brothers' vision of human flight.

6. Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire into Action

"Organized planning is the crystallization of desire into action."

Plan meticulously. Success requires organized planning and persistent action. Your plan should be flexible and continually revised based on experience and changing circumstances.

Creating an effective plan:

• Form a "Master Mind" alliance with supportive individuals
• Decide what you can offer in return for cooperation
• Meet regularly with your alliance to refine your plan
• Maintain perfect harmony within your group
• Be prepared to fail and start over repeatedly
• Analyze successful people in your field and emulate their strategies

The author emphasizes the importance of persistence in the face of temporary defeat, citing Thomas Edison's 10,000 attempts before perfecting the incandescent light bulb.

7. Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination

"The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going."

Decide promptly. Successful people make decisions quickly and change them slowly, if at all. Indecision and procrastination are major causes of failure.

Developing decisiveness:

• Gather all necessary information before making decisions
• Trust your own judgment and avoid seeking opinions from all and sundry
• Make decisions promptly and stick to them
• Take full responsibility for your decisions
• Learn from your mistakes and adjust your approach accordingly

The author illustrates this principle with historical examples like the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where 56 men made a decision that could have cost them their lives.

8. Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith

"Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel."

Persist relentlessly. Persistence is the sustained effort necessary to induce faith and achieve success. It's often the missing link between failure and success.

Developing persistence:

• Have a definite purpose backed by burning desire
• Create a definite plan and take continuous action
• Close your mind against negative influences
• Form alliances with those who encourage your persistence

The author provides examples of persistent individuals like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who succeeded after numerous failures because they refused to give up.

9. Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force

"No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible, intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind."

Leverage collective wisdom. The "Master Mind" principle involves the coordination of knowledge and effort between two or more people working towards a definite purpose in a spirit of harmony.

Creating a Master Mind group:

• Select members with diverse skills and knowledge
• Ensure all members are working towards a common goal
• Meet regularly to exchange ideas and solve problems
• Maintain a spirit of perfect harmony among members
• Be willing to give as much as you receive from the group

The author cites examples like Henry Ford's friendship with Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone as evidence of the power of the Master Mind principle.

10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation

"The emotion of sex contains the secret of creative ability."

Channel sexual energy. Sex transmutation is the switching of the mind from thoughts of physical expression to thoughts of some other nature. When harnessed, this energy can be a powerful creative force.

Harnessing sexual energy:

• Recognize the power of sexual energy as a motivating force
• Channel this energy into creative pursuits rather than purely physical expression
• Use the intensity of sexual desire to fuel your ambition and creativity
• Balance the expression of sexual energy with other positive emotions
• Study the lives of highly successful and creative individuals for inspiration

The author suggests that many great leaders and creators throughout history have effectively used this principle to achieve their goals.

11. The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link

"The subconscious mind is the connecting link between the finite mind of man and Infinite Intelligence."

Program your subconscious. Your subconscious mind is the intermediary between your conscious mind and Infinite Intelligence. It works day and night, translating your dominant thoughts into their physical equivalent.

Influencing the subconscious mind:

• Feed your subconscious with positive thoughts and desires
• Use auto-suggestion to plant ideas in your subconscious
• Emotionalize your thoughts to make them more impactful
• Practice visualization to reinforce your desires
• Be aware that negative thoughts can also influence your subconscious

The author emphasizes the importance of understanding and harnessing the power of the subconscious mind for achieving success.

12. The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought

"The brain is both a broadcasting and receiving station for the vibration of thought."

Tune your mental frequency. The human brain is capable of picking up vibrations of thought being released by other brains. This concept is similar to the principle of radio broadcasting and receiving.

Harnessing the power of thought vibrations:

• Recognize that thoughts are energy traveling at high frequencies
• Elevate your thought vibrations through positive emotions
• Be receptive to thought vibrations from others, especially through the "sixth sense"
• Use the creative imagination to tap into higher frequencies of thought
• Practice meditation or concentration to improve your mental receptivity

The author suggests that this principle explains phenomena like telepathy and provides a scientific basis for the power of positive thinking.

Last updated: July 25, 2024