One of the best selling self-help authors of all time in the history of America was Napoleon Hill (1883—1970). This prolific writer has provided advice and counsel to millions of people around the world through his books and other publications and documents all of which summarize and depict the mountains of information and data he personally collected from the great and highly successful men and women of American history. His writing is thorough and extensive. His content and order of presentation is easy to read and comprehend. His accuracy is almost perfect as he presents the details of the understanding and application of what he learned from over a quarter of a century of collection, documentation, study, and printed publication. What he writes and presents to his readers is, in reality, a mental feast; a treasure trove; and a storehouse of what, why, when, where, and how the truly great leaders and successful achievers from out of the past conceived, believed, and then achieved that which they all passionately pursued with the use of their lives.
God’s Laws are equally applicable to all readers and students because our Creator is no respecter of persons. What works for one, will indeed work for all who understand and apply the truths that this great American author presents to those who choose to learn and use the information which is being presented.
Napoleon Hill’s writings were done and published in the first half of the twentieth century. Much of that which Mr. Hill learned and wrote about dealt with the human mind and its operations. At the time of its publication, his writing was highly controversial and provocative. Discussing spirituality and religiosity was not readily acceptable in the world of literature and documentation at the time Mr. Hill was writing and publishing his books. It must also be remembered that Napoleon Hill had no primary source of funding from his mentor and supporter, Mr. Andrew Carnegie. It was up to Mr. Hill to collect and publish the findings he gathered from the most successful people in the world with whom Mr. Carnegie had prearranged personal meetings and interviews. Napoleon Hill was self-funded. It was understood that Hill would use his own money to support himself while he accumulated the knowledge and information about which he would later write. Once his work was done, and his findings were documented into many different books, Mr. Hill would then be entitled to all revenue and royalties associated from the sale of his books…Mr. Carnegie would take nothing. Napoleon Hill took a 25 year gamble that his personal self investment would be worth it all….And it certainly was! Napoleon Hill’s book sales soared in the second half of the twentieth century (and continue to do so today some 90+ years after they were initially published!) and he went on to become a multi-millionaire,…when money really was worth something!
So the controversy over Hill’s writings all stemmed around his unfamiliar general understanding as to what and how Mr. Hill discussed and identified God Almighty, the Creator God of the Universe,…the God of the Holy Bible. In a concerted effort to attract readers of his books and not turn off readers and students to his written material, so as to maximize book sales, he did not call or refer to God Almighty as God, but rather called Him… Infinite Intelligence. Such usage accurately identified and made his intended point and still did not turn off potential buyers of his books.
Mr. Hill had a severely physically handicapped son. He had been born without ears. Medical expenses were great and further hindered Hill’s efforts to accumulate sufficient wealth to keep up with his living and traveling expenses. Book sales would be his salvation from bankruptcy and the poor-house. He needed to have successful written accounts of the mechanics of gaining one’s personal freedom and success so as to provide for his financial sustenance. Accomplishing it would spell out the difference between surviving and providing for his family, and complete financial collapse.
In the late 1970s I personally contacted, by telephone, the living, albeit elderly, personal secretary to Mr. Napoleon Hill. This man was living in Chicago, Illinois, at the time of my telephone call. He had been Mr. Hill’s personal secretary for many consecutive years throughout all of the time the books were being written. I personally asked him a straight-a-way question. Was Napoleon Hill a Born-Again Christian Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? Without taking a moment’s extra time to think over the question, he quickly and emphatically answered my question. He reported to me with an immediate and resounding “YES, INDEED HE WAS!”
One of the greatest of all personal characteristics of all of the truly great men and women of accomplishment is possessing great and powerful personal faith in themselves,…in their own talents and abilities; and then using that belief in self to its maximum advantage in the application of the work efforts they had personally chosen to perform.
There are indeed several “secrets” concerning the hidden methods of control that can lead a person directly in to or out of individual catastrophe and ruin,….physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Once studied and learned, those same destructive habits and procedures can and will help a person to steer away from those lurking snares and traps and totally avoid them. Once a person slows down long enough to learn what these secret traps really are, what they look like, and how they function…it will become totally and sadly obvious how and why all such snares and traps cause the average person to far too quickly and ever-so-easily voluntarily hand over their personal fates to negative thoughts, passive acceptance, and physical pain.
I must also tell you that there are four major obstacles that always confront the striving achiever in their quest to accomplish personal freedom and success, all of which result in keeping them from reaching their personal dreams and goals: fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy. Steer away and stay clear from these emotions and actions at all costs. Whenever they raise their ugly heads in your life, flee immediately from these ugly circumstances and predicaments, and never listen to or accept these “wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing” into your mind, personal affairs, or life.
Napoleon Hill once boldly stated to the general public: “My main aim with the use of my life is to help unlock the doors of the self-made prisons in which men and women are confined.”
He was a man of many quotations such as: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and then believe, it can achieve.”
He further went on to say: “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”
He also stated: “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”
It has been said by successful people that the person you will become in the next five years depends totally upon the books you read and the people with whom you associate. These two things, in particular, are what makes up most of your personal mental environment. All success begins in the mind of a man or a woman. It begins with a dream and a decision to turn this god-given dream into a reality. The human mind is the Command and Control Center (CCC) of all mankind. It is your connecting link between the mind of man and God. These two most important things must be connected in order for the human being to draw power and strength from his own Creator. Consequently it only makes good sense for a serious minded person to stay connected with God Himself through the thoughts and prayers he or she offers and receives from the One who made him,…just as he or she is!
The language of personal success and freedom is universal. It all applies equally to all people. From your own learning and study, come to know it well. And carefully, accurately, and correctly use the English language, the Word of God, and your own personal thoughts and actions that are required to create your own personal success and freedom.
I will close this discussion with a masterful quote from Napoleon Hill directly to you:
“FEAR is the tool of a man-made devil.”
“Self-confident faith in one’s self is both the man-made weapon
which defeats this devil and the man-made tool which builds a
triumphant life. And it is more than that. It is a link to the irresistible forces of the universe which stand behind a man who does not believe in failure and defeat as being anything but temporary experiences.”……………..Napoleon Hill
Peace and Love to All of You………………Poppa Bear