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NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH

Chapter 8

Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination

The Seventh Step toward Riches

ACCURATE analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced fail-
ure, disclosed the fact that LACK OF DECISION was near the head of the list
of the 30 major causes of FAILURE. This is no mere statement of a theory-it
is a fact. PROCRASTINATION, the opposite of DECISION, is a common enemy
which practically every man must conquer.

You will have an opportunity to test your capacity to reach quick and definite
DECISIONS when you finish reading this book, and are ready to begin putting
into ACTION the principles which it describes.

Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond
the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of
REACHING DECISIONS PROMPTLY, and of changing these decisions SLOWLY,
if, and when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without
exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, IF AT ALL, very slowly, and of
changing these decisions quickly and often.

One of Henry Ford's most outstanding qualities is his habit of reaching decisions
quickly and definitely, and changing them slowly. This quality is so pronounced
in Mr. Ford, that it has given him the reputation of being obstinate. It was this
quality which prompted Mr. Ford to continue to manufacture his famous Model
"T" (the world's ugliest car), when all of his advisors, and many of the purchasers
of the car, were urging him to change it.

Perhaps, Mr. Ford delayed too long in making the change, but the other side of
the story is, that Mr. Ford's firmness of decision yielded a huge fortune, before the
change in model became necessary. There is but little doubt that Mr. Ford's habit
of definiteness of decision assumes the proportion of obstinacy, but this quality is
preferable to slowness in reaching decisions and quickness in changing them.

The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs,
are, generally, easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. They permit the news-
papers and the "gossiping" neighbors to do their "thinking" for them. "Opinions
are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to