The Law of Attraction tells us that like attracts like. That fact is proven here, where Napoleon Hill learns that not only does his determined faith net his personal gains, but it also nurtures a sense of faith in others; namely, in this instance, his son.

Faith Knows No Personal Bounds

“As I analyze the experience in retrospect, I can see now, that my son’s faith in me had much to do with the astounding results. He did not question anything I told him. I sold him the idea that he had a distinct advantage over his older brother, and that this advantage would reflect itself in many ways. For example, the teachers in school would observe that he had no ears, and, because of this, they would show him special attention and treat him with extraordinary kindness. They always did. His mother saw to that, by visiting the teachers and arranging with them to give the child the extra attention necessary. I sold him the idea, too, that when he became old enough to sell newspapers, (his older brother had already become a newspaper merchant), he would have a big advantage over his brother, for the reason that people would pay him extra money for his wares, because they could see that he was a bright, industrious boy, despite the fact he had no ears.

Determination Overcomes Adversity

“We could notice that, gradually, the child’s hearing was improving. Moreover, he had not the slightest tendency to be self-conscious, because of his affliction. When he was about seven, he showed the first evidence that our method of servicing his mind was bearing fruit. For several months he begged for the privilege of selling newspapers, but his mother would not give her consent. She was afraid that his deafness made it unsafe for him to go on the street alone.

“Finally, he took matters in his own hands. One afternoon, when he was left at home with the servants, he climbed through the kitchen window, shinnied to the ground, and set out on his own. He borrowed six cents in capital from the neighborhood shoemaker, invested it in papers, sold out, reinvested, and kept repeating until late in the evening. After balancing his accounts, and paying back the six cents he had borrowed from his banker, he had a net profit of forty-two cents. When we got home that night, we found him in bed asleep, with the money tightly clenched in his hand.

Effort: Rewarded

“His mother opened his hand, removed the coins, and cried. Of all things! Crying over her son’s first victory seemed so inappropriate. My reaction was the reverse. I laughed heartily, for I knew that my endeavor to plant in the child’s mind an attitude of faith in himself had been successful.”

Faith Is Contagious

One of the most important things that we can learn is this lesson from Hill. Faith is not only personal; it is communal as well. It is not something you need keep to yourself. Faith should be shared. When it does, it grows, and rewards you many times more than faith held in secret.

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008

Tagged as: adversity, Attitude, Determination, faith, Law Of Attraction, Mindset, Mindset Mastery, money, Napoleon Hill, results, successes, successful