Napoleon Hill's Self-Confidence Formula

Posted by hughrandle@gmail.com on November 1, 2011 at 3:20 PM

Napoleon Hill is considered by many to be the father of self improvement. Born in the West Virginia coal mining hills in 1883, Napoleon Hill spend much of his early life interviewing dozens of famous men of the early 1900's on a three year "assignment" from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Hill interviewed Presidents, Supreme Court justices, famous businessmen, inventors and statesmen. The secrets of success that he uncovered appeared in this magnum opus THE LAWS OF SUCCESS and after revision and refinement as one of the most famous business books ever written, THINK AND GROW RICH. Today, nearly 80 years after its first publication, THINK AND GROW RICH is still recommended by most professional speakers and business leaders as the "go-to" book for the purpose of developing your chief purpose in life and to set the goals and disciplines needed to get you there. In his primary work, Napoleon Hill developed a self-confidence formula that was written to overcome what he felt was the principle obstacle in people achieving greater success- their own lack of belief in themselves. Here is Hill's Self-Confidence Formula in its complete form:

PART I I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life, therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continous action towards its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action. "Every man is what he is, because of the dominating thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind."

PART II I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action and gradually transform themselves into a physical reality. Therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear, mental picture of that person.

PART III I know through the principle of auto-suggestion (note: today we would call this the sub-conscience), any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object in my mind. Therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding myself, the development of self-confidence.

PART IV I have clearly written down a description of my definite chief aim in life, and I will never stop trying until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

PART V I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all who it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. This formula used by Hill and by many others have succeeded in increasing the confidence of those who subscibe to its tenets. A person will only achieve in life what they feel they can. If you do not feel like you deserve success, you will not achieve much of it, and if you do, and don't feel like you deserve it, you will repel it and even self-sabotage the success or happiness that comes your way. Today, make it your goal to develop your self-confidence formula. Feel free to use this one TODAY, to understand that 1) you have what it takes and 2) if you grow your success in a win-win way, you fully deserve all of the success and happiness you earn.