Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” is a timeless guide to success, and it all begins with DESIRE. Chapter 1 lays the groundwork for transforming your dreams into reality. But desire alone isn’t enough. It needs to be a burning desire, an obsession that consumes your thoughts and fuels your actions. Think about a time when you desperately wanted something. How did you feel? What steps did you take to achieve it? That’s the level of intensity Hill is talking about.
This chapter introduces the six definite steps for transmuting desire into its monetary equivalent:
1. **Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.** Be specific. Don’t just say “I want a lot of money.” Quantify it.
2. **Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.** Remember, there’s no such thing as something for nothing. What value will you provide?
3. **Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.** Setting a deadline creates urgency and forces you to take action.
4. **Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not.** Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now, even if you don’t have all the answers.
5. **Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.** This is your personal declaration of intent.
6. **Read your written statement aloud twice a day, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning.** As you read, see, feel, and believe yourself already in possession of the money.
These steps are deceptively simple, but they require consistent effort and unwavering belief. Many people fail because they give up too easily. They lack the persistence needed to overcome obstacles and setbacks. Hill emphasizes the importance of auto-suggestion, repeatedly impressing your subconscious mind with your desire until it becomes a driving force. This is not just wishful thinking; it’s a deliberate programming of your mind for success. Consider the story of Edwin C. Barnes, who had a burning desire to become a business associate of Thomas Edison. He didn’t just dream about it; he took action, traveling to Edison’s office with a clear plan in mind. Despite initial setbacks, his unwavering desire eventually led him to achieve his goal. What burning desire are you ready to pursue?