Page 111 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned
P. 111
with eating, strong drink, and sexual activities. Overindulgence in any of these is
fatal to success.
25. INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS. More people lose their posi-
tions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other
reasons combined. It is a fault which no well-informed business man, or leader
will tolerate.
26. POSSESSION OF POWER THAT WAS NOT ACQUIRED THROUGH SELF
EFFORT. (Sons and daughters of wealthy men, and others who inherit money
which they did not earn). Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradu-
ally, is often fatal to success. QUICK RICHES are more dangerous than poverty.
27. INTENTIONAL DISHONESTY. There is no substitute for honesty. One may
be temporarily dishonest by force of circumstances over which one has no con-
trol, without permanent damage. But, there is NO HOPE for the person who is
dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up with him, and he will
pay by loss of reputation, and perhaps even loss of liberty.
28. EGOTISM AND VANITY. These qualities serve as red lights which warn oth-
ers to keep away. THEY ARE FATAL TO SUCCESS.
112
NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH
29. GUESSING INSTEAD OF THINKING. Most people are too indifferent or lazy
to acquire FACTS with which to THINK ACCURATELY. They prefer to act on
"opinions" created by guesswork or snap-judgments.
30. LACK OF CAPITAL. This is a common cause of failure among those who start
out in business for the first time, without sufficient reserve of capital to absorb
the shock of their mistakes, and to carry them over until they have established a
REPUTATION.
31. Under this, name any particular cause of failure from which you have
suffered that has not been included in the foregoing list.
In these thirty major causes of failure is found a description of the tragedy of life,
which obtains for practically every person who tries and fails. It will be helpful
if you can induce someone who knows you well to go over this list with you, and
help to analyze you by the thirty causes of failure. It may be beneficial if you try
this alone. Most people cannot see themselves as others see them. You may be
one who cannot.
The oldest of admonitions is "Man, know thyself!" If you market merchandise