Napoleon Hill lets us know right from the start where this idea of a single secret to wealth creation originated.
“In every chapter of this book, mention has been made of the money-making secret which has made fortunes for more than five hundred exceedingly wealthy men whom I have carefully analyzed over a long period of years.
“The secret was brought to my attention by Andrew Carnegie, more than a quarter of a century ago [ed. note: estimated to be early 1900's]. The canny, lovable old Scotsman carelessly tossed it into my mind, when I was but a boy. Then he sat back in his chair, with a merry twinkle in his eyes, and watched carefully to see if I had brains enough to understand the full significance of what he had said to me.
“When he saw that I had grasped the idea, he asked if I would be willing to spend twenty years or more, preparing myself to take it to the world, to men and women who, without the secret, might go through life as failures. I said I would, and with Mr. Carnegie’s cooperation, I have kept my promise.”
What Carnegie Taught Hill
What is the significance of what Carnegie ‘tossed’ into Hill’s mind? The significance is two-fold in nature;
1) there is one central reason why rich men are rich
and
2) with knowledge of this secret, any man or woman can become wealthy on their own.
As we follow along through the 13 principles Hill discovered, proof of this bi-fold fact will become more and more apparent.
I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
THANKS FOR THAT THE SECRET WILL SOON UNFOLD ITSELF TO ME AND SHORTLY MY NAME WILL BE MENTIONED AND AS A MATTER OF FACT PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING REFERENCES TO ME IN GENERATION TO COME VIA THIS YOUR BOOK.
What is it you do, Kinglsey? I feel like we can all help you get to where you want to be as sometimes you need support and to shout from the roof tops what it is you’re doing in order to be the best at it.
I am an author, a writer, an example of The Secret in action and always on the lookout for others like me.
Thanks Kingsley
I certainly look forward to seeing and hearing that empowering result. Good luck.
Enjoy the journey!
Sean,
Great post.
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
The hard parts are the conceiving and believing. Most people are locked into what is right in front of their eyes, instead of what is in their minds eye.
Keep up the great work.
Here’s to Your LifetoSuccess,
John Clark
A short tale of this nature. I had booked a day off from work in the middle of a rainy, dreary and cold June in Canada and all my fellow employees laughed when I said I was going to the zoo. The forecasts perdicted more rain, lightening, thunder and recommended I cancel my day to the zoo and stay home instead. Or, at the very least, plan an indoor adventure.
I persisted, continued to tell them confidently that the day would be beautiful. That overcast would be fine and proceeded to call my nephews to commit to an afternoon with me. I said it would have to be the afternoon (I wanted to sleep in of course) because it was going to be chilly in the morning but the afternoon would be positively beautiful.
The sun came out and we all got beautiful tans and had a wonderful time. When I went back to work they were all coming to me with their schedule so I could make it sunny for their days off, too!
Thanks John. I wish you plenty of LifeSuccess too.
Hi Sean,
Andrew Carnegie was also a very smart man. He could just as easily kept the secret and never shared it with Napoleon Hill or even encouraged Napoleon to make it his life’s work to share it with the world.
I am ready to work my way though ‘Think and Grow Rich’ with you as my guide. I am excited at the prospect of what this will mean for myself and my family.
Hi Sean,
Andrew Carnegie had the intuition to know that Napoleon Hill had what it took to be able to grasp the concept.
I hope it doesn’t take me 25 years to learn the secret.
Hi Jill
That’s what we have others, who have gone before us, to thank for. To fast-track our learning and learn from their mistakes, successes and experiences.
Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..Richard Branson Business School: A day visit
“1) there is one central reason why rich men are rich
and
2) with knowledge of this secret, any man or woman can become wealthy on their own.”
I wonder did he really know how world-changing this idea is?
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
I am sure Carnegie applied this secret to the thought, “I want to find a man to reveal this secret to the world for me” and lo and behold Napoleon Hill walks into his office!
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery
It’s amazing how it is “a secret” but nobody is actively hiding it. Here it really shows – you only see what you focus on and what you are willing to see. I hope I have my eyes and my mind wide open from now on for the rest of my life, to be able to see all the “secrets” that are not really secrets but help me to live the life I want to have.
Renee´s last blog ..Definition Of Motivation
Hi Renee,
You make a great point. You only see what you focus on and are willing to see. I think the key is to have a successful mindset at all times and then the secrets to success are everywhere.
Sometimes, I think we’re so blinded by our circumstances that we can’t see the way out. But, when we have the right mindset, we see opportunities to improve our life everywhere.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference
I love the way Napoleon Hill described this incident. I can just imagine them having a drink and a smoke together, and then Carnegie saying the words that would change the course of Napoleon Hill’s life forever, along with the many lives that Napoleon Hill himself influenced. Now that would have been a powerful moment. Fortunately Napoleon said yes.
Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Explaining the ClickBank Affiliate Program Terms of Use – Part 1 – a Sheriff with 8 Deputies
To be a fly on the wall during that moment would DEFINITELY be a Mastercard ‘priceless’ moment! Quick, to the Delorian! *LOL*
Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way!
It’s rare to see that kind of dedication and hard work which I think is why we’re not all millionaires – yet. If only everyone would spend their time learning and doing instead of complaining and complaining the economy wouldn’t be where it is today.
Sarah Butland´s last blog ..You Are the Reason I Know It Will Happen
Hi Lina,
That is true, Andrew Carnegie engaged Napoleon Hill to do the trail blazing for us so that we, after him, may have an opportunity for easier comprehension and learning of the philosophy.
Hope that makes sense?
Jill Brown´s last blog ..Common Law Marriage – What is Common Law Marriage?
Hi Sean
Everyone loves a mystery, and it sure sounds like one. However, the so called secret lies within the pages of the book. We know there is no instant get rich quick scheme, nothing was mentioned in the book about that.
We know that on every page, there is an important lesson to follow and we know that Carnegie very clearly suggested to Napoleon that he would have to prepare himself for 20 years before bringing this information to the world. Considering Napoleon was a boy at the time, this 20 years could have allowed time for him to mature in Carrnegie’s estimations and to put the lessons to practical use.
What if every page was important, like a recipe that is to be followed?. Why not keep reading and taking action on each lesson instead of trying to find this mysterious secret?
I have made my choice.
Elly´s last blog ..
Hi Elly,
I agree with you, every page is important and I still have trouble getting my head around this “there is one central reason why rich men are rich”
I can’t pinpoint just one central reason but a combination of things as being important to get yourself where you want to be. So I will keep reading and taking action until I am there
Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites