Napoleon Hills Positive Influence

Napoleon Hill spent twenty years of his life interviewing the most successful men in America in order to write the first book on the science of personal achievement. In the course of his studies, he developed seventeen success principles. These teachings explain each of them, In order, they are Definiteness of Purpose, the Master Mind Alliance, Going the Extra Mile, Applied Faith, Self-Discipline and Cosmic Habit Force. Hill often referred to these as the most important of the success principles.

Hill and his last wife, Annie Lou, established the Napoleon Hill Foundation 1962, and it continues today to publish his books, videos, audios and lectures. These six lectures were transcribed but never before published and only recently found by the Foundation. The Trustees of the Foundation have chosen the title “Napoleon Hill’s Positive Influence” for this book because these lectures deal with many of the influences which help people to become successful, and which drove Hill to achieve his own successes.

One of Hill’s greatest influences was business tycoon Andrew Carnegie, who commissioned him in 1908 to undertake his twenty-year investigation. During his investigation, he discovered that important positive influences on successful people included having self-discipline, learning from adversity, working in harmony with others, selecting “pace makers”, surrounding oneself with positive books and mottos, being guided by Faith and what Hill called “Infinite Intelligence”, social and physical heredity, and the law of Cosmic Habit force, by which one’s habits become ingrained in one’s personality and character. All of these positive influences are covered in these lectures.

In addition to Andrew Carnegie, a number of individuals were positive influences in Hill’s life, and they too are discussed in the lectures. Those who he knew personally, and who are referenced in the lectures, include Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Franklin Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Elmer Gates, Alexander Graham Bell and Edwin Barnes. On a more personal level, he speaks fondly of his step-mother and his wives who helped him with his endeavors. We are fortunate to be able to present an Introduction to the book by Napoleon’s grandson, J.B. Hill, and a Preface by Napoleon Hill Foundation Executive Director Don M. Green, both of which explain the important roles played by these women in bringing positive influences to bear on his life and work.

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