One of the things I love is reading books that were published a long time ago. Especially when the topic has been written about by hundreds of authors recently, and they have been riding their coattails for years. 

Do you know what I mean?

When you listen to personal development, folks like Tony Robbins or the latest folks share about the “law of attraction.”  None of what they’re saying is new. Well, for that matter, there aren’t any new ideas, just newer ways to look at and interpret things.  All ideas are really based on something from eons ago.  Yet, I just love what I call “going to the source.” 

When I read a book from an author and get a lot out of it, like when I read Wayne Dyer’s Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting, that book blew me away at a time when I needed it! 

So I went to the back of the book, wrote down all the books he mentioned, bought them, and read them too.  It’s fun to read the original authors, where current authors get their ideas, and how they create even more interpretations of those ideas.

Let’s go back to the book this week: How to Own Your Own Mind by Napoleon Hill.  If you don’t know Napoleon Hill, I’d highly encourage you to read this and his other more famous book – Think and Grow Rich. And if you’re an entrepreneur and haven’t read Think and Grow Rich yet – it’s a must. He wrote it in the 1930s.

While scrolling through my Audible library, I found this book by him, which I’d never heard of before.  I love the story about how it came to be– “Locked in a vault since 1941. Here is Napoleon Hill’s definitive lesson on how to organize your thinking to attain success!” I mean, throw the words “locked in a vault since 1941,” and I’m in!

Apparently, this book was first compiled in 1941 and was forgotten due to the onset of WWII.

This book spoke to me because its premise is an interview he did with Andrew Carnegie, where he explained how to achieve success through organized thinking. I love all the examples he gives in the books of Titans of that period. 

My favorite story is about Edison. I thought I’d heard all the stories about Edison’s thousands of lightbulb filament failures.  The story in this book was about how he came up with the idea of using a glass vacuum bulb to contain the wire. I liked this because its essence is about creativity and applying an idea from something completely different and using it in something new. 

I will give you a brief version. When Edison created the lightbulb, he struggled to keep the filament lit for more than a few minutes. He tried many things. It wasn’t until he was watching how coal was made.  And that’s when the idea came to him to put the wire inside a glass vacuum bulb with a cork.

This book gives you more examples of how to focus your mind on developing creative ideas.

It’s focused on these 3 concepts:

1. Creative Vision – This is ALL about your imagination and how to access it. He gives some great ideas on how to do this.
2. Organized Thought – It’s about creating good habits and identifying and knowing your bad habits.  The more you know, the more you can tackle them. He also tells you how to unlock your subconscious through willpower and the power of your emotions. 
3. Controlled Attention – This is all about implementing your creative vision and your organized thought. It goes way beyond just a simple concentration. 

It’s a definite must-read. Or, in my case, listen to it on Audible!

Some Inspiration and Quick Book Review to Entice You to Get and Read it!

Quick Summary: This book is about Napoleon Hill’s study of achieving success through organized thinking. The concepts are divided into three chapters – Creative Vision, Organized Thought, and Controlled Attention. The goal is to teach you how to think before acting, recognize opportunities, define your definite major purpose, and then act on it.

WHO Ought to Read this Book: If you’re an entrepreneur, this is a must-read. Especially if you have already read Think and Grow Rich, I know you will enjoy this more focused conversation and the action-taking concepts in this book. He also has some great stories of the inventors of that time, such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Alexander Graham Bell.  

Why Read this Book? These concepts are spot on if you’re looking for a way to access your creativity and take action in your business.  He walks you through exactly how to use the three concepts. For example, he also details creative imagination when he talks about Creative Vision. He also gives you five steps to take to stimulate your imagination. One of them I use a lot is “to be curious.” It’s a mindset to ask questions and be open to whatever comes. 

A Couple of Things You Will Discover: Why it’s so important to have a definite purpose in your work and in your life. How important it is to understand the difference between facts and opinions. No one can think for you. When you’re listening or reading something, ask questions like – Is this person a recognized authority on this subject?  Are they of sound judgment? Do they have a reputation for writing from a place of integrity? And how to train yourself to recognize charlatans.  Also, it’s important to set aside time to do your own creative visioning and imagination. 

Inspiring Book Quotes:

The Soul:
“Creative imagination is the workshop of the soul.”

You Don’t Need More Blessings:
“Don’t pray for more blessings- pray for more wisdom on how to enjoy the blessings you already have…”

You Only Have Control Over This:
“The only thing we have control over is the power of organized thoughts- you only have control of your mind and what you think.”

Thoughts and Physical Action:
“All physical action, therefore, begins in the form of a thought. To control physical action one has only to control thoughts. The presence of any thought in the mind has a tendency to set up an appropriate physical action in some portion of the body.”

No Limitations:
“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.”

Prosperous Businesses:
“Wherever you find a prosperous business, you will come upon some individual who has Creative Vision.”

About the Author – Napoleon Hill:

Napoleon Hill was born in Wise County, Virginia. He began his writing career at age 13 as a “mountain reporter” for small-town newspapers and became America’s most beloved motivational author. His work stands as a monument to individual achievement and is the cornerstone of modern motivation. His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, is one of the best-selling books of all time. Hill established the Foundation as a nonprofit educational institution whose mission is to perpetuate his leadership, self-motivation, and individual achievement philosophy.

Where I Would Recommend You Get Your Copy:
How to Own Your Own Mind by Napoleon Hill

More Books Totally Worth Checking Out by Napoleon Hill:
Think And Grow Rich

Outwitting The Devil: The Secrets to Freedom and Success

Napoleon Hill’s A Year of Growing Rich: 52 Steps to Achieving Life’s Rewards