Thoughts Become Things When Backed Up By Determination

Determination is a powerful thing when it is in full swing. This discussion is the second entry in a two part review of the introductory chapter called “Thoughts Become Things” from the book “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill which was originally released in 1937.

The book in my opinion has a general theme of repetitiveness but I don’t think that was by accident. I think he was intentionally trying to get a point across. Each chapter seems to cover multiple subjects and may barely touch on the title topic in some chapters. It revisits those topics repeatedly in other chapters.

This is not a negative criticism but just an observation from a 21st century perspective. I love the book and am currently eating the book for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It doesn’t follow a straight line. It follows a circular repetitive pattern and not a straight linear pattern. The book is designed for regular and repeated study, discussion and digestion. It’s not to be read once in just a sitting or two. It’s like a workbook or a classroom textbook.

So let’s dig in. What is determination defined? I define it as a resolve and a decision and also a refusal to fail or to give up. It’s not like obsession or any kind of flowing current of energy. It’s not an outwardly pulsating energy. Determination is an inner tensile strength. Determination is like steel. It’s not an outwardly expressed energy or power. It has a dense resiliency and is able to endure and withstand great amounts of external pressures.

Remember the movie “Raging Bull”? Robert Deniro was born for the role of boxer Jake La Motta. His famous line at the end of a bloody boxing match was “I never went down.” He lost the match but refused to fall down to the mat. That’s determination.

On page 2 Mr. Hill relates one of his many anecdotal stories. This one is about a man named Mr. Barnes. Mr. Barnes had a definite purpose and was as determined as a bulldog to stand by his definite purpose. He had resolved to let nothing stop him from his definite purpose. This was visibly apparent to others working around him.

Months went by and his determination did not wane. Opportunity decided to present itself but to do so in a sly sneaky disguise. We mentioned prosperity consciousness in our first discussion and Mr. Barnes consciousness was keen and sharp on recognizing disguised opportunities.

Mr. Hill said on page 3 that opportunity was a trickster with a habit of slipping in through the back door covered up under misfortune or some type of temporary failure or defeat. He capitalized on this opportunity and eventually went into partnership with Thomas A. Edison himself. He had thought himself into a fortune. He took an intangible impulse of thought and transmuted it into a material reward by the application of known principles.

The ‘Three Feet from Gold’ story on pages 3 and 4 explains how quitting often seems to be the easy and logical thing to do when faced with temporary defeat and failure. The gold prospectors in the story gave up just three feet away from striking a gold mine. They sold their machinery and the buyer decided to seek some expert counsel and kept mining. He struck gold with very little effort because he was so close to the gold mine.

Studying and analyzing failure can lead to knowledge, success and opportunity. There are golden lessons to be learned from failure and defeat. Page 5 and 6 tells the story of the strange powers of a child’s persistence in the face of failure. The child only wanted fifty cents and was doggedly determined to get her reward. She taught several grown men some valuable lessons that served them years later in bringing them financial rewards of their own.

He told another story on page 8 about Henry Ford and the V-8 engine. Ford’s engineers told him it was impossible to build an 8 cylinder engine. His reply was “Stay on the job until you succeed, no matter how much time is required.” It was a year later but they succeeded in making the impossible possible. They also succeeded in not allowing time to defeat them or to become their enemy.

Well these are my thoughts on the introductory chapter of Mr. Hill’s book. I do want to welcome all of your thoughts in this discussion on thoughts becoming things or the power of a ‘bulldog’ determination to “Think And Grow Rich”.

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!