This post concludes Napoleon Hill’s list of 30 Common Causes of Failure; and just to keep it interesting, there’s a bonus at the end of it, too.
Rounding Out The List
26. Possession of power not acquired through self effort. (Sons and daughters of rich and famous, and others who inherit money they did not earn). Power in the hands of a person who did not acquire it gradually, is often fatal to success. Quick riches are more dangerous than poverty.
27. Intentional dishonesty. There is no substitute for honesty. It is possible from time to time that a person might be temporarily dishonest by force of circumstances over which he or she has no control without permanent damage. But, there is no hope for the person who is dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up with him, and he will pay in loss of reputation, and perhaps even loss of liberty.
28. Egotism and vanity. These qualities serve as red flag warning others to keep away. They are fatal to success.
29. Guessing instead of thinking. Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire facts enough to think accurately. They would rather act on “opinions” created by guesswork or snap-judgments.
30. Lack of capital. This is a common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time without a sufficient reserve of capital to absorb the shock of their mistakes, and to carry them until they have established a reputation.
31. Your cause here. Under this, name any particular cause of failure from which you have suffered that has not been included in the foregoing list.
Ending With A Bang (?)
If you left the list thinking it was kind of flimsy in its list of causes, or disappointed with your bonus #31, that’s probably a good thing; it means you’re getting the point. It means that you are realising that the real causes of failure are not all that strong; and if the bonus didn’t impress you, it means you are human and don’t like to admit that you might be your own cause of failure—but nevertheless the ability to own up to that and face your failures is a strong step towards success.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
Aussie Internet Marketer © 2004 – 2009
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
most excellent ! no. 31 is truly the most poignant, most powerful tool for ‘knowing thyself’ and being prepared to be flexible and creative opens doors to a whole new vista..
G’day Sean,
My feeling is that lack of Persistence and Focus are the worst offenders. Follow those with excessive negativity.
Reduce Negativity here http://easytoblog.uwcblog.com/Flushing and Burning Negativity – this one works well.
Cheers
Harry
I really don’t know which is worse. Too much of an ego, which can be pretty bad at first, but can usually be tamed through the usual barrage of obstacles…until the whiff of success is again in the air. Or the opposite, low self-confidence, which can make a person simply buckle under the pressure of those same obstacles.