Think and Grow Rich: Imagination

"Man's only limitation lies in his development and use of his imagination"

Let go of your personal restrictions, things which are holding you back and focus on how to GET to where you want to go with your life. Use your IMAGINATION, open your mind and ACT.

"Desire is only a thought, and impulse [...] and is of no value until it has been transformed into its physical counterpart"

This seems pretty obvious, but is something that so many people neglect or overlook. How many "good ideas" have you had? How many of those have you acted on, produced, worked towards? How many times have you thought or said "I want that" and didn't get it or try to? These are just thoughts if you don't do anything with them!

Game of Thrones was an idea. Cars were ideas. Computers, phones, internet... all were just "good ideas" and somebody ACTED. Meals stem from ideas (some are not so good, but they lead to good ones!)

Time to externalize some thoughts!


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The reason for this blog is to allow me to summarize and analyze what I read, to take moment to truly think about the lessons I can learn from THINK AND GROW RICH. Many of the chapters in this book simply "link up" ideas from previous chapters or re-enforces those ideas.

Think and Grow Rich: Specialized Knowledge

I mentioned in my previous post how I see Think and Grow Rich as more than a business book, that you can apply the lessons to ALL aspects of your life. While most of what has been said in the book are things we already know, such as how learning or being educated is important, but here it is explained WHY. 

  

"Knowledge is only potential power"

Knowledge is not power. It is not enough to simply know something, it is almost useless if you don't apply it or use what you know to move forward. The application of knowledge is power. Keep learning, keep educated yourself on your field, become an expert yet remain a student of your domain. If you are not at the top of your field yet, use what you learn to get you there. Don't keep all your information inside.

On a personal note, this was a wake up call for me. I have many certifications in my field yet I don't showcase my learnings. From now on, I'll be using MY knowledge and MY education more often.

Do you use what you know? 

"Too many of those who begin at the bottom never manage to lift their heads high enough to be seen by opportunity, so they remain at the bottom"

Think and Grow Rich: Auto Suggestion

"Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better"

This chapter further delves into the concept of believing in yourself and of having faith. Here, Napoleon Hill distinguishes the difference between the conscious mind and the sub-conscious mind and how to change what you think of yourself and your goal or project. He uses the term Auto-suggestion which, to my understanding, means conditioning, or self-conditioning. This chapter explains how to condition yourself to believe something or think a certain way.

"Through dominating thoughts which one permits to remain in the conscious mind, the principle of auto-suggestion voluntarily reaches the subconscious mind and influences it with these thoughts."

Put simply, if you tell yourself something long enough and often enough, you will begin to believe it. Mr. Hill suggests saying aloud, twice daily, what your desired affect is. If you wish to earn a million dollars, tell yourself "I will become a millionaire". If you wish to become a successful fitness coach (hi!), tell yourself "I will become a successful fitness coach". It is encouraged to envision yourself having reached your goal until it becomes as clear as reality.

This chapter is one of the shortest in the book yet probably one of the most significant in order to be able to apply the steps and other tools outlined throughout Think and Grow Rich.

While this is a business book and money is often referenced as the desired goal, I find it may also be used as a "self-help" book because of the focus on confidence building. For example, a lesson from from this chapter; start and end your day saying the following aloud:

"Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better"