Napoleon Hill outlined 17 principles of success. Use this information to elevate your life to a new level so that you may live your dreams.
Principle 1: Definiteness of Purpose
Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Without a purpose and a plan, people drift aimlessly through life.
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”
Principle 2: Mastermind Alliance
The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others.
“Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire.”
Principle 3: Applied Faith
Faith is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans, and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent.
“Desire backed by faith knows no such word as impossible.”
Principle 4: Going the Extra Mile
Going the extra mile is the action of rendering more and better service than that for which you are presently paid. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play.
“When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play.”
Principle 5: Pleasing Personality
Personality is the sum total of one’s mental, spiritual and physical traits and habits that distinguish one from all others. It is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked by others.
“Your mental attitude is the most dependable key to your personality.”
Principle 6: Personal Initiative
Personal initiative is the power that inspires the completion of that which one begins. It is the power that starts all action. No person is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own.
“No man is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his personal initiative.”
Principle 7: Positive Mental Attitude
Positive mental attitude is the right mental attitude in all circumstances. Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure.
“The man who maintains a positive mental attitude may have anything in life upon which he may set his heart, so long as it does not conflict with the laws of God and the rights of his fellowmen.”
Principle 8: Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is faith in action. It is the intense emotion known as burning desire. It comes from within, although it radiates outwardly in the expression of one’s voice and countenance.
“Enthusiasm is the steam that drives the engine.”
Principle 9: Self-Discipline
Self-discipline begins with the mastery of thought. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline calls for a balancing of the emotions of your heart with the reasoning faculty of your head.
“If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.”
Principle 10: Accurate Thinking
The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used.
“Our minds become magnetized with the dominating thoughts we hold in our minds and these magnets attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts.”
Principle 11: Controlled Attention
Controlled attention leads to mastery in any type of human endeavor because it enables one to focus the powers of his mind upon the attainment of a definite objective and to keep it so directed at will.
“Focus your attention on the goals that you want to achieve and on finding ways to achieve those goals.”
Principle 12: Teamwork
Teamwork is harmonious cooperation that is willing, voluntary and free. Whenever the spirit of teamwork is the dominating influence in business or industry, success is inevitable. Harmonious cooperation is a priceless asset that you can acquire in proportion to your giving.
“The more you give, the more comes back to you.”
Principle 13: Adversity & Defeat
Individual success usually is in exact proportion of the scope of the defeat the individual has experienced and mastered. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise.
“Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise.”
Principle 14: Creative Vision
Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination. It is not a miraculous quality with which one is gifted or is not gifted at birth.
“You become what you think about.”
Principle 15: Health
Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.
“No person may enjoy outstanding success without good health.”
Principle 16: Budgeting Time & Money
Time and money are precious resources, and few people striving for success ever believe they possess either one in excess.
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”
Principle 17: Habits
Developing and establishing positive habits leads to peace of mind, health, and financial security. You are where you are because of your established habits and thoughts and deeds.
“Both success and failure are largely the results of habits.”
