Napolean Hill once said, “The successful person knows precisely what he desires, has a plan for getting it, believes in his ability to get it, and devotes a major portion of his time to acquiring it.” In my opinion, this one quote has more truth and substance than any single sentence I have ever read. Go back and read it again (no really, do it). In a world full of get-rich quick schemes and an overabundance of books on the “secrets” to becoming successful, it is refreshing when someone shoots straight and doesn’t offer short cuts. If you don’t know who Napolean Hills is, make it a point to become familiar with his work. He is the author of the book, Think and Grow Rich, one of the best selling books of all time. It was originally published in 1937 and by any standard has stood the test of time. Although Hill passed away in 1970, his legacy lives on at The Napolean Hill Foundation, which continues to spread his philosophy of achievement through merchandise, an e-mail newsletter, and inspirational “Thoughts for the Day.” You can learn more at www.naphill.org.
Getting back to the quote, let’s take a close look at what he is saying and how we can use it to our advantage. The quote starts out by stating the successful person knows exactly what he desires. Can you say that you know EXACTLY what you desire, or do you have a pretty good idea of what you want? Most people have a pretty good idea, but very few of us have a clear vision of our long-term goal(s). Have you taken the time to figure out what you want in life? Better yet, do you have them written down? Do you review them regularly? If you answered yes to any of these, congrats, because you are in the minority.
The second part of Hill’s quote deals with having a plan. Obviously, if you don’t know precisely what you want, I don’t have to even ask if you have a plan. However, if you know where you want to go, the next logical step is figuring out how you’re going to get there. A GPS system is a useful tool for helping with directions while on a trip, but no one has developed a GPS for success. Sorry, but when it comes to reaching your goals, you have to find your own way.
Next, according to Hill, is having a belief in your ability to attain that which you desire. This part of the quote seems fairly obvious, but we all know someone who never reached their potential because they didn’t believe they could do it. Personally, I’ve never met a successful person that wasn’t full of confidence. Another of my favorite quotes comes from Henry Ford, who once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”
Lastly, we come to the end of the quote where Hill suggests that we must devote a major portion of our time to acquiring whatever it is we desire. Have you ever taken a hard look at how you spend your time? What percentage of your time is actually getting you closer to accomplishing your goals? Do you make your daily or weekly schedule based on what you HAVE to do, rather than what you NEED to be doing to reach your dreams? If so, make a commitment to re-prioritize your time immediately. Take control of your schedule instead of letting it control you.
In conclusion, take a look a Napolean Hill’s quote and ask yourself honestly if you are on the path to becoming a successful person or not. It’s four simple steps that very few people ever take. Know what you want, have a plan for getting it, believe in yourself, and spend the necessary time getting it. The alternative is to keep letting days, weeks, months and years slip by while you get no closer to living the life of your dreams. It’s never too late, but you must make a decision to make it happen and then get to work.