"A thousand electric dry batteries, when properly organized and connected together with wires, will produce enough power to run a good-sized piece of machinery for several hours, but take those same cells singly, disconnected, and not one of them would exert enough energy to turn the machinery over once."- The Law of Success, page 81
If you take a look at the most successful people in your life, it is very unlikely that they are successful by accident. Chances are they are successful because they have mastered or have a good grasp on most of the characteristics Hill mentions in his book—and they employ them simultaneously.
By thinking about success like a well-conducted symphony, we begin to understand that each of the laws plays its own important part in our journey. Like the harmony of many instruments playing at once, it is almost impossible to tell where one law ends and another begins.
Take for example the importance of having a definite chief aim, the first of Hill’s 15 laws. How does one determine what their definite chief aim will be without first using their imagination and having enthusiasm about what the future holds? And is it possible to have a definite chief aim without the self-confidence that you can do whatever you put your mind to?
"The man who labours without a definite purpose that is backed up by a definite plan for its attainment, resembles the ship that has lost its rudder. Hard labour and good intentions are not sufficient to carry a man through to success, for how may a man be sure that he has attained success unless he has established in his mind some definite object that he wishes?"- The Law of Success, page 80
When looking to determine whether you are successful in your life, it is imperative to have a purpose, or what Hill refers to as a definite chief aim. The reason living with a purpose or discovering your definite chief aim is so important is because without it, it’s nearly impossible to know whether you have been successful. If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?
As Kid President said in a recent viral YouTube video pep talk, “This is life people!” It’s time we decide how we are going to live our life, and what we are going to live for. We owe it to ourselves to find our passion and purpose and to start living with intention. Life is too short not to follow our dreams!
"This also, is another common error made by men in all walks of life - that of failure to work in unison, in a thorough spirit of co-operation."- The Law of Success, page 201
Despite the fact that most success stories start with one person and their determination to accomplish something for themselves or for the greater good, at the end of the day, their success generally relies on the help and involvement of other people.
Throughout The Law of Success, Hill repeatedly refers to Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Andrew Carnegie as some of the biggest success stories of his time. Despite their differences, the one thing these men all had in common was the ability to rally a team of people around them who would help them to accomplish their greatest goals.
If the old adage “you are only as good as the company you keep” is true, then it is all the more important to surround yourself with people who will support, motivate, and help you reach your potential. In such an interconnected world it is impossible to be successful alone and if you don’t surround yourself with people who are willing and able to help you reach your destination, you may miss out on something unique and special – the law of the mastermind. But that my friends, is another story, and one that should be left to Mr. Hill himself.
Despite the fact that The Law of Success was first published in 1928, the 15 laws described are still as relevant as ever, proving that there are some universal truths that do not change regardless of how many years pass.
Napoleon Hill was born in 1883 in a one-room cabin on the Pound River in Wise County, Virginia. He began his writing career at age 13 as a “mountain reporter” for small town newspapers and went on to become America’s most beloved motivational author. Hill passed away in November 1970 after a long and successful career writing, teaching, and lecturing about the principles of success. His work stands as a monument to individual achievement and is the cornerstone of modern motivation. His book, Think and Grow Rich, is the all time bestseller in the field. Hill established the Foundation as a nonprofit educational institution whose mission is to perpetuate his philosophy of leadership, self-motivation, and individual achievement. His books, audio cassettes, videotapes, and other motivational products are made available to you as a service of the Foundation so that you may build your own library of personal achievement materials… and help you acquire financial wealth and the true riches of life.
