Page 145 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned

PERSISTENCE brought an astounding triumph late in life, long beyond the age
when most men and women are done with ambition to achieve.

146

NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH

Eddie Cantor lost his money in the 1929 stock crash, but he still had his PERSIST-
ENCE and his courage. With these, plus two prominent eyes, he exploited himself
back into an income of $10,000 a week! Verily, if one has PERSISTENCE, one
can get along very well without many other qualities. The only "break" anyone
can afford to rely upon is a self-made "break." These come through the applica-
tion of PERSISTENCE. The starting point is DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE.

Examine the first hundred people you meet, ask them what they want most in
life, and ninety eight of them will not be able to tell you. If you press them for an
answer, some will say-SECURITY, many will say-MONEY, a few will say- HAP-
PINESS, others will say-FAME AND POWER, and still others will say-SOCIAL
RECOGNITION, EASE IN LIVING, ABILITY TO SING, DANCE, or WRITE, but
none of them will be able to define these terms, or give the slightest indication of
a PLAN by which they hope to attain these vaguely expressed wishes. Riches do
not respond to wishes. They respond only to definite plans, backed by definite
desires, through constant PERSISTENCE.

HOW TO DEVELOP PERSISTENCE

There are four simple steps which lead to the habit of PERSISTENCE. They call
for no great amount of intelligence, no particular amount of education, and but
little time or effort. The necessary steps are:-

1. A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILL-
MENT.

2. A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION.

3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAG-
ING INFLUENCES, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and ac-
quaintances.

4. A FRIENDLY ALLIANCE WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO WILL EN-
COURAGE ONE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BOTH PLAN AND PURPOSE.

These four steps are essential for success in all walks of life. The entire purpose
of the thirteen principles of this philosophy is to enable one to take these four