Think and Grow Rich (Summary)
A penniless man named Edwin C. Barnes appeared in Thomas Edison's laboratory and declared he was going to become the inventor's business partner. He had no connections and no money—only an intense, burning desire. For years, he performed menial jobs, waiting for his chance. When Edison invented a new dictating machine that his salesmen thought was unsellable, Barnes saw his opportunity. He sold it so successfully that Edison gave him a contract to distribute it across the nation, making Barnes a rich man. He didn't just work for Edison; he literally thought his way into a partnership.
Wishing Gets You Nowhere; Burning Desire Does
The starting point of all achievement is not a mere wish or hope, but a definite, burning desire. This desire must be an obsession, backed by a clear plan and unwavering persistence.
To turn desire into reality, Hill provides a six-step formula: 1) Fix the exact amount of money you desire. 2) Determine exactly what you will give in return. 3) Establish a definite date. 4) Create a definite plan. 5) Write it all down in a clear statement. 6) Read your statement aloud twice daily, morning and night, seeing and feeling yourself already in possession of the money.
Form a 'Master Mind' Alliance
No individual has enough experience, education, or ability to ensure great success without the cooperation of other people. A 'Master Mind' is the coordination of knowledge and effort between two or more people, creating a third, invisible mind of immense power.
Henry Ford, despite having little formal schooling, built an industrial empire. He did this by surrounding himself with a Master Mind group that included brilliant minds like Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone. When challenged in court for his supposed 'ignorance,' Ford famously replied he could summon an expert to give him any knowledge he required within minutes, proving that he didn't need to keep all the facts in his head, only to have access to those who did.
Your Subconscious Mind is Your Greatest Ally
The subconscious mind is the connecting link between the finite mind of man and Infinite Intelligence. By repeatedly planting thoughts of faith and purpose into it through 'auto-suggestion,' you can influence it to guide you towards your goals.
Hill tells the story of his own son, Blair, who was born without ears and was told he would be deaf and mute for life. Hill refused to accept this and continuously communicated to his son, both verbally and through thought, that he would develop the ability to hear. Over time, and with the help of a hearing aid, Blair's brain developed a pathway to process sound, and he went on to live a normal life with near-normal hearing—a result Hill attributed to impressing a powerful belief upon the subconscious mind.
Failure is a Trickster with a Keen Sense of Irony
Most great successes are preceded by temporary defeat and failure. Quitting is the most common cause of failure, and it often happens just one step away from success.
A man named R.U. Darby got 'gold fever' and went west to dig for gold. After initial success, the vein of ore disappeared. He drilled and drilled, found nothing, and finally quit, selling his machinery for a few hundred dollars to a 'junk' man. The junk man hired an engineer who determined the original vein was just three feet from where Darby had stopped drilling. The junk man went on to extract millions of dollars of ore from that mine.
