I recently started a re-read of Napoleon Hill’s ‘Grow Rich with Peace of Mind.’ Marketing genius Dan Kennedy calls this Napoleon Hill’s best book.
I understand why Dan would say that this is his best book because of the experience and learning that must have taken place between when ‘Think and Grow Rich’ was first published in 1937 and when ‘Grow Rich with Peace of Mind’ was published 30 years later in 1967, just four years before Hill died.
So when Hill talks about closing the door on your past, he must know what he’s talking about.
Napoleon Hill had many failures – a point many say make him a fraud. After all he wrote the bible on growing rich – how dare he fail. Yet failure seems to be par for the course.
Not enough is said about failure, except in passing and in a very general nature.
We are left to think that failure often never occurs but failure is real, and part of the journey.
What is important is that we don’t dwell on or keep re-living our failures.
- The ability to earn money consistently is an area where many of us unsalaried folk fail.
- The ability to make money work in our favour is the area where many salaried folk fail.
Every adversity has within it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.
napoleon hill
COVID-19 is a definite adversity so wherein lies the greater benefit?
We have a tendency to over-indulge and overextend when times are good only to regret imprudence when the tide turns (as it is guaranteed to), like we didn’t even really see this downturn was coming until it was upon us…COVID-19 that is.
This is what Warren Buffet meant when he said in 1992 and continued saying, through to 2007:
It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked
Many of us admittedly have been swimming naked. COVID-19 has accelerated the receding tide and caught us with our pants down!
It is time for a reset.
True power in this world comes from economic independence. Way before COVID-19, too many people in Trinidad and Tobago had way too much month left at the end of their money. I suspect that since COVID-19 this situation has gotten worse.
No matter what financial position the Pandemic finds you in, you need to stop, take a deep breath and CLOSE THE DOORS TO YOUR PAST insofar as any regrets or post-mortems are concerned. You are where you are. What has happened has already happened. Dwelling on how stupid you are, or what you should have done, is not very helpful right now.
You have a wonderful opportunity to look at yourself. Real wealth starts with the view you have of yourself. You are your first capital and you are the CEO of your life.
Watch your words. When you speak of failure, you attract failure. When you speak of success you attract success.
Lose envy. Regardless of the times, there will always be someone who is going to be better off, make more money than your do, or have what you have but bigger.
Unadulterated desire is fine but nursed envy is harmful. It eats away at your peace of mind and can bring unwanted ailments into your life. Keep your focus clean and clear of all negativity.
If you just lost your livelihood, now is definitely not the time to be resentful and hate-filled. What you carry with you is communicated invisibly and indirectly to all that you come into contact with. Think carefully about what message you’re sending.
And above all, if you’re in a job you don’t like, still do your best and then some. Working to rule or doing only what you need to is actually working against you. This has nothing to do with whether you like your employer or not. Progress will be made only when you have more than filled the requirements of your present position. If you are not filling or exceeding your present position then zero change is likely to occur.
As we look towards the future, let us carry only what is instructive.
Ambassador Andrew Young said – “There is a difference between being broke and being poor. Being broke is economic but being poor is a disabling frame of mind and a depressed condition of one’s spirit.”
In other words, being poor is having a broken view of who you are.
We must all vow to never, ever be poor again!
I want to give everyone the ability to succeed and prosper no matter what very real roadblocks society puts in their way. We have more power than we realize if only we can recognize and claim it. Reach out here and let’s have a conversation.
Learn how you can use your own power to succeed despite bleak odds.
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