Think and grow rich - by Napoleon Hill

This was a great motivation for me when I read it in 2000. It was written in 1937 and is still one of the best self help books going around.

Some books I've found helpful:

The Magic of Thinking Big
The Art of Managing People
Split Second Choice
Choose What Works

gm

I also read Think and Grow Rich a couple of years ago. Although I did benefit from it some, it's possible I wasn't ready for it then.

I read The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles last year and I got a lot more out of that one - probably because it is a lot simpler ;)

All the best,

Robert Kiyosaki's finance books are good, starting with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".
I've seen a bit of critisism for it, which makes me laugh. People always want to be handfed, and Kiyosaki definately isn't offering a step by step guide to getting rich. Rather, i've found that he works to change your perspective on money, and that really is the first step to getting rich.
I found great value in the books anyways, give them a read anyone who is interested:)

Robert Kiyosaki's finance books are good, starting with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".
I've seen a bit of critisism for it, which makes me laugh. People always want to be handfed, and Kiyosaki definately isn't offering a step by step guide to getting rich. Rather, i've found that he works to change your perspective on money, and that really is the first step to getting rich.
I found great value in the books anyways, give them a read anyone who is interested:)

When I was in a major bookstore, I saw that "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" book... I never quite read the introduction... maybe i'll take a second look at it.

Wealth Creation, I believe "Think and Grow Rich" is a condensed version of the "Law of Success" by Dr. Hill. If you like the book, you better get a copy of the latter.

Think and Grow Rich is certainly one of the most highly recognized titles. I started re-reading it recently, because I keep hearing it mentioned. I'm a quarter of the way into it, and my recent reading has reminded me of how unimpressed I was the first time I read it.

Think and Grow Rich is certainly one of the most highly recognized titles. I started re-reading it recently, because I keep hearing it mentioned. I'm a quarter of the way into it, and my recent reading has reminded me of how unimpressed I was the first time I read it.

Why are you not impressed coach?

LOL

We dont need any threads on techniques to build confidence. Just watch coach and do what he does :biglaugh:

When you zero right into the book..
You will find the answers to the techniques used

and Simplicity is the Best
with consistent and persistent in one method
you will manifest what you set out to achieve

Why are you not impressed coach?

The first problem with "Think and Grow Rich" is the assertion by Hill that you need to become obsessed with your pursuit of money. It's the wrong focus and bad advice. The second problem I have with the book is how Hill tells the reader that the secret is contained within the book and it will be revealed to you when you are ready to receive it. This is a typical tactic of so called "experts" that gives them an excuse if you try their advice and it doesn't work. It's not the advice that's crap, it's YOU.

Having said that, there are some little gold nuggets of good advice hidden among the fluff and psycho-babble. For example the lesson learned from the story about quitting three feet from gold, and the Henry Ford story illustrating the point that you don't have to know everything to succeed... you have to know where to find the information you need to succeed.

The list of leadership traits and the 31 reasons people fail are good lists to consider, and that's as far as I am right now. As with any book there is some good and some bad, some relevant and some unrealistic advice. Don't be so quick to take everything you read as gospel. Apply what you can wrap your mind around and don't worry about the rest.

gm

Hey Coach, you hit the nail on the head about some of these books mentioned. What is with people being so addicted to one man's theory on how to do something? I like what you said about taking what is relevant and forgetting about the rest.

Robert Kiyosaki's finance books are good, starting with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".
I've seen a bit of critisism for it, which makes me laugh. People always want to be handfed, and Kiyosaki definately isn't offering a step by step guide to getting rich. Rather, i've found that he works to change your perspective on money, and that really is the first step to getting rich.
I found great value in the books anyways, give them a read anyone who is interested:)

I've heard this book recommended quite a bit. I think I might read it when I'm finished with the other books I'm currently reading. I'd like to be able to offer my opinion on that one.

If Tim is giving it a thumbs up, I'm sure there are some gold nuggets to be found.

Hmm… I must respectfully disagree on that… the book is not just about the pursuit of money or focusing on money alone. May I just quote what success is in Dr. Hill’s definition…

Success is the development of the power with which to get whatever one wants in life without interfering with the rights of others.

That covers almost everything… fame, happiness, good relationship, money etc. Riches if described in its ordinary meaning as “money” and without considering a greater purpose of its accumulation for me is not worth having. What’s the use of money if you don’t make “good” use of it? So being obsessed in money perse is a bad idea. But the book is not just about that, it’s about rendering useful service, it’s about the “golden rule” and not the “rule of gold” and much more.

A story in the book entitled “What I Would Do If I Had A Million Dollars” described my point. It’s not “just” about the pursuit of a million dollars; it’s also about rendering useful service. The story is about a preacher whose deepest desire is to become the directing head of an educational institution in which young men and women would be taught to “learn by doing”. The preacher saw certain defects in other educational institution that he believes he could correct. He needed the million dollars. Every night he took that thought to bed with him. He got up with it in the morning. He took it with him everywhere he went. He turned it over and over in his mind until it became a consuming obsession with him… blah blah blah in short he succeeded in achieving his definite chief aim. And what was that? A million dollars? Or the answer on what he would do if he had a million dollars?

Same goes with Edwin Barne’s story of being obsessed in having a partnership with the great Thomas Edison. “Months went by. Apparently nothing happened to bring the coveted goal which Barnes had set up in his mind as his DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE. But something important was happening in Barnes’ Mind. He was constantly intensifying his DESIRE to become the business associate of Edison.

Psychologists have correctly said that when one is truly READY for a thing, it puts in its appearance.” In basketball, how can you actually have a firm hold of the ball if you are not ready to receive it in the first place?

I agree that there are good and bad books. Here is my weird analogy… Just like in martial arts… I find most of the techniques of taekwondo, karatedo as impractical that is why most of their practitioners failed in mixed martial arts competition like in the UFC. But I find the techniques of jujitsu, kickboxing and wresting as effective. But if a newbie will use the techniques of jujitsu against a non-martial artist and fails, it is not because jujitsu is bad or ineffective it is because the practitioner has not fully mastered the techniques of jujitsu. And to be really effective in mix martial arts, one must combine all of the effective techniques of each martial arts system. In success, it’s like combining the principles taught by Dr. Hill, Covey, Carnegie and Coach Morse :D

I know we are talking about T.A.G.R. but I would like to quote the promise of Dr. Hill about “The Law of Success” namely:

“That through its mastery and application you can get whatever you want, with but two qualifying words – within reasons. This qualification takes into consideration your education, your wisdom or your lack of it, your physical endurance, your temperament, and all of the other qualities mentioned in the sixteen lessons of this course as being the factors most essential in the attainment of success”

Woah! That was long… I must be getting faster in typing or I'm just bored :eek:

Hey Coach, you hit the nail on the head about some of these books mentioned. What is with people being so addicted to one man's theory on how to do something? I like what you said about taking what is relevant and forgetting about the rest.

That's a great question! I don't know why exactly, but I suspect it has a lot to do with how desperately people want to succeed, to make something of themselves, to be somebody, to be acknowledged as worthy, or be important enough to be included, feeling connected to or part of society.

When an "expert" shares the secret formula for success or untold riches, they usually set up the secret by priming the pump, filling the reader with a sense that their success will rely heavily on how firmly they "believe". They are sure to point out how you can NEVER achieve success unless you follow their formula to the letter.

People will hang on for a long time singing the praises of a bogus book for two reasons. First, they don't want to fail for lack of belief so they try to convince themselves it's true by selling it to others. Second, they don't want to feel ashamed at having been fooled, so they keep pretending it's true to postpone the self-loathing that always accompanies the realization of having been suckered.

I have found this tactic to be manipulative in nature, designed to keep you coming back to buy the next book/product.

While it's true that how strongly you believe in your own ability will have an effect on the quality of your results, belief alone will neither guarantee success or the lack thereof ensure failure. It's important for people to hear that it's okay to make mistakes... it's normal to have doubts... and that there is not "one" magic formula.

Living life successfully is all about making your best guess and hoping you are right more often than you're wrong. Having said that, people who make educated decisions will do better than those who are just winging it.

gm

Hey Chazper,

I think we are actually agreeing on most things. I think you've read different books and seem to have a realistic view of how to apply the different theories in these books to your unique situation. I definately agree with that.

There are some useful insights to be found in Think and Grow Rich, however I do not think it's a fantastic book... I think it's a typical self-help book, filled with typical self-help mumbo-jumbo that requires the reader to sift through and figure out what information is relevant and can be useful in their own circumstances.

My take on the "What would I do with a million dollars" story is that it's ridiculous. Hill's conclusion can't be verified as truth so it must remain his opinion. The preacher thinks about what he could do with a million dollars for two years. Then he finally decides he's going to get a million dollars within a week. Hill contends that because the preacher made this "decision" he gained access to the universal powers of transmutation... that he was sooooo determined and sooooo definte in his purpose to get a million dollars within a week that his desire was transformed into reality. The next day he gave a sermon and a dude in the audience came up afterward and said, "Preacher I'm going to give you a million dollars". uh... yeah right.

That's the problem I have with parts of this book and they require sifting. The principle of making a decision to take action and setting a timeframe to accomplish a goal is a good principle. But Hill's example is unrealistic and way over the top. So, with any self-help book you have to sift through the gobble-dee-gook to pull out a few valuable nuggets. Except my book, which is filled with easy to find nuggets(shameless plug). :D

gm

You never cease to amaze me coach… I wish other coaches like you who come here would do the same and share their ideas on the forum on a regular basis to earn member’s respect. :thumb:

Has anyone read "The One Minute Millionaire - The enlightened way to wealth by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen? What are your thoughts on the book?

You never cease to amaze me coach… I wish other coaches like you who come here would do the same and share their ideas on the forum on a regular basis to earn member’s respect. :thumb:

Thanks Chazper! :)

Has anyone read "The One Minute Millionaire - The enlightened way to wealth by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen? What are your thoughts on the book?

I have not read this one... have you?

I have not read this one... have you?
I've read the "one minute manager" it's about taking one minute decisions/actions (quick but sound decisions/actions) in becoming a good manager. So I'm just guessing that "one minute millionaire" basically follows the same principle... it's a wild guess :lildevil:

I was actually thinking of gettin the one minute millionaire book - but i'm in the middle of reading "the unofficial guide to real estate investing" right now

if you want specific details on how to get into real estate - this is the book for you. Its over 400 pages long and gets very much into detail about everything so far. (im only on page 140)

Kiyosaki's book are the best out there for investing in my opinion..for the theory at least. They dont get into detail on how to do it, but for theory, i'd say they're absolutely the best. I've read like 5 of them and all them are awesome :rulz:

Reeveso,
Have you read Kiyosaki's "Before You Quit Your Job - 10 Rreal Life Lessons Every Entrepeneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Business"?
I'm half way through this one (you should have seen the look on some fellow employees faces when they saw what I was reading at lunchtime.)

I have read a number of his books and listened to his audios. The most profound statement that Kiyosaki made in his books that has changed my thinking is how his Poor Dad would say "I can't afford that." and his Rich Dad would ask "How can I afford that?"

Hansen and Allen's book "The One Minute Millionaire - The Enlightened Way to Wealth" is very different from most books I have read. It is actually 2 books in one. The left-side pages are one minute lessons and the right side is a novel about a widowed woman who has 90 days to make a million dollars or lose her children forever. I highly recommend this book for your personnal library if you are truly motivated to become financial free.

[QUOTE=Kat](you should have seen the look on some fellow employees faces when they saw what I was reading at lunchtime.)QUOTE]

haha :biglaugh:

I never read either of those books, but i'll definetely put them on the list!

I've read the One Minute Manager and was thoroughly unimpressed.

Kat,
What did you think of the One Minute Millionaire?

gm

I've read the One Minute Manager and was thoroughly unimpressed.

Kat,
What did you think of the One Minute Millionaire?

gm

Coach,
I read the One Minute Manager before my twins were born. At the time I had 5 children I was homeschooling ( I homeschooled 7 children for 7 years). The one point I took from that book was - point out the wrong a person has done for only one minute. This saved me time and stress.

As far as the One Minute Millionaire, presently I use it as a referrence. The novel portion I related to, but found it may be unrealistic. The main point that I took from the other side was - give and then you will recieve. It reaffirmed for me what I have been doing all along, only now I don't see millionaires in the same light. If I were to be a millionaire I certanly would want to be an "enlightened millionaire".

Last week I purchased another book written by Hansen & Allen - "Cracking the Millionaire Code - Your Key to Enlightened Wealth". I plan on reading it on a 3 week business trip at the end of July. I'll let you know what I think about this one.
KAT

"Think and Grow Rich". Awesome book!! Did you know that more millionaires credit their financial success to that book alone, more than any other book ever written? I read Think and Grow Rich once a year!!


Also, a book called "Rhinoceros Success" is very good.

Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged rocks!!! Beware, Ayn Rand ain't for wimps. LOL!! :biglaugh:

I agree, Think and Grow Rich is a classic! Very good stuff.

What can you tell us about Rhinoceros Success?

In my opinion...

The first thing you have to learn is how to shrug off criticism...I mean, what do I care what somebody else thinks about me...You need to ask yourself "Is this person who is giving me this criticism, is this a person I want to be like?" If he ain't, then what do you care what he thinks?

Now, if Donald Trump or Larry Ellison criticized me and pointed out how I could be better, you bet your a$$ I'd listen!!

"Rhinoceros Success" teaches you how to have a thick skin, not to let the people in the "herd" bother you. (the author calles people in the herd "cows"LOL!!)

and then the book teaches you to "charge," take action, towards your goal!!

It's written in simple terms. The author says you are either a Rhinoceros or you are a cow.

Which do we want to be?

Ahh my parents read that to me when i was very young, i all but forgot it existed until you mentioned it! I'll go see if i can find it on monday, i'd love to read it again :)

Regards,

Rhinocertim