Stoking The Flames Of A Burning Desire To Succeed

The first step toward riches according to Napoleon Hill in his classic book “Think And Grow Rich” is Desire. In Chapter 2 he says desire is the starting point of all achievement. Now desire can be just a hope and a wish sometimes. This desire has to be intense. He spoke about a man named Edwin C. Barnes who had an opportunity to carry out the one consuming obsession of his life, a burning desire to become the business associate of the great inventor Thomas Edison. He goes on to mention that Mr. Barnes succeeded because he chose a definite goal, placed all of his energy, will power, effort and everything into that goal.

He decided to make it a must and not just a ‘want’ or a ‘like’. He had to turn a desire into a burning desire and a burning desire into an obsession. What is obsession? In my opinion obsession is not a ‘want’ or a ‘like’. Obsession is a drive. It’s almost a crazed drive.

So how do you turn a goal or a desire into a must have driving obsession? Well first of all doesn’t this all sound a little scary unhinged or unbalanced? Actually you are scaring yourself with these thoughts. It’s understandable. It’s even natural to react that way. Your rational mind is trying to come up with reasons and excuses to try and talk you out of actually achieving your goal just because of the terminology or verbiage you are now using. Your rational mind is trying to be ‘realistic’.

Let’s shift gears for a moment during this inner conversation on ‘realism’. How long have you been failing, floundering and struggling? That struggle was very ‘realistic’ wasn’t it? What is the exact opposite of a crazed driven obsession? How about apathy? Indifference? How about delusion? How about mediocrity? What is the exact opposite of greatness?

Your problem may be with the image of obsession. The key is balance. A lack of balance is what you have to restrict and keep in check and not obsession. A lack of balance is a lack of self control and self discipline. Do you like TV or movies or collecting butterflies or collecting stamps? These things can become obsessions. This can be true for anything? What about sex or eating or sleeping?

A crazed driving obsession is not horrible. It’s beautiful and crucial for success achievement, peace of mind and happiness in life. It can even be life saving in a life or death situation like drowning or escaping a burning vehicle or something. Then it’s a crazed driving obsession with living. A lack of balance, self control and self discipline is what’s horrible and not a properly channeled positive obsession.

An organized obsession would really be ideal. It has all the force and energy of a crazed driving maniacal obsession but sensibly and practically contained mastered and controlled to burn and enflame your natural desire and your goal and focus. This obsession never gets out of your grasp and wanders or tries to take over in any area that you do not want it to bleed into.

Well gang these are my thoughts on the chapter on desire. There is a part two to this discussion. Mr. Hill goes into some detail on an action plan to pour your organized obsession into. I will dive into that discussion the next time we meet.

Kevin Jackson aka The Cash Flow DJ is working to build a free network and alliance of entrepreneurs banding together to achieve their financial goals. Join our group on Facebook!