Think and Grow Rich Book Summary Part 3

In Part 2, we talked how the attainment of riches starts with the mind. Having a burning desire, coupled with faith and autosuggestion, will help turn our thoughts into reality. Sounds easy, right?

However, not everyone progress from desire into the attainment of riches. If success and riches starts in the mind, then failure and poverty can start in the mind as well. Hill even listed the 31 major causes of failure in Chapter 7.

Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

The Disaster of Negative Thinking

Hill observed that when we feed our subconscious minds with negative thoughts, it will eventually translate into its physical equivalent like misery and failure. To accumulate riches, it is important to stay away from negative thinking.

How? It starts by identifying what these negative thoughts are and its sources. Since these negative thoughts occur in the mind, it is the mind that will eradicate them.

In Chapter 15, Hill listed the Six Ghosts of Fear. You can’t Think and Grow Rich while these fears remain in your mind. All other fears can be grouped into these six basic fears.

The Six Basic Fears

Fear of Poverty. Being poor can cause so much suffering. This is why many people fear poverty. The fear of poverty is the most destructive. It paralyses reason, imagination, and enthusiasm. As a result, there are people who are eager to possess wealth through any manner and method possible.

Fear of Criticism. According to Hill, the effects of this fear to personal achievement is fatal. The fear of criticism “destroys initiative, and discourages the use of imagination.” The sad thing about criticism is that they would even come from people close to us like our parents, friends and relatives. They say things that hurts us even though they might not be aware of it.

Fear of Ill Health. This fear is closely related to the fear of old age and the fear of death. Old age and death are considered to be an “unknown world”. Anything that is unknown to man will be feared at.

Fear of Loss of Love. This is the most painful of all fears. Jealousy and other forms of neurosis grow out of man’s fear of losing someone he loves.

Fear of Old Age. This fear is brought about by the possibility that we will become poor and ill when we grow old. Old age also brings the possibility of losing our physical and economic freedom.

Fear of Death. Hill traces the source of the fear of death to the different religious teachings on death and the eternal punishment that may come in the afterlife.

No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Worry Not

Once fear takes over us, we worry a lot. And when we worry a lot, we loss our capability to reason, to decide and to take initiative. We can’t think properly. If we can’t think, our desires will never progress to riches.

Hill reminds us that “worry is a form of sustained fear caused by indecision; therefore it is a state of mind that can be controlled.”

Hill provides these remedies to our fears.

“Relieve yourself, forever of the fear of death, by reaching a decision to accept death as an inescapable event.

“Whip the fear of poverty by reaching a decision to get along with whatever wealth you can accumulate without worry.

“Put your foot upon the neck of the fear of criticism by reaching a decision not to worry about what other people think, do or say.

“Eliminate the fear of old age by reaching a decision to accept it, not as a handicap, but as a great blessing which carries with it wisdom, self-control, and understanding not known to youth.

“Acquit yourself of the fear of ill health by the decision to forget symptoms.

“Master the fear of loss of love be reaching a decision to get along without love, if that is necessary.”

So subtle and deeply seated is the emotion of fear that one may go through life burdened with it, never recognizing its presence.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

We have seen how negative thoughts can hinder our attainment of riches. In Part 4, Hill advises us how to surround ourselves with positive thoughts.

Think and Grow Rich Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Think and Grow Rich Book Summary Part 2

It all starts in the mind

Napoleon Hill lists DESIRE as the starting point of all achievement. The desire should not be just a wish, or a hope. The desire should be definite! It will then guide you to place all your energy, all your will power, and all your effort to bring the desire to reality.

The state of mind must be belief, not mere hope, or wish.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Six ways to Turn Desires into Gold

In Chapter 2, Hill provided six definite, practical steps to turn desire into gold

FIRST: Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.
SECOND: Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.
THIRD: Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
FOURTH: Create a definite plan to carry out your desire, and begin at once.
FIFTH: Write out a clear, concise statement of the first to fourth steps.
SIXTH: Read your written statement from the fifth step aloud, twice daily.

Hill mentions that the steps above were given a stamp of approval from Thomas A. Edison, “not only the steps essential for the accumulation of money, but for the attainment of any goal.”

Hill therefore argues that to start getting rich or to start attaining any goal is very easy. The first step of many successful people is having a dream, a hope, a wish, or a desire. The first step requires no hard labor, no sacrifice, even no educational attainment. Thus, anyone can start getting rich.

The Power of the Mind

The title of the book starts with the word Think. Napoleon Hill would emphasize the power of the mind several times in the book. The starting point is desire and the next steps occur in the mind to keep the desire burning.

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

After desire, you need FAITH (Chapter 3). Faith is the believing that you can achieve what you have desired. This occurs in the mind, as well.

Next is AUTOSUGGESTION (Chapter 4). This step influences the subconscious mind so that the conscious mind will act upon your desires. Again, this occurs in the mind.

The other steps are SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE (Chapter 5) and IMAGINATION (Chapter 6). These are still happening in the mind.

Having Specialized Knowledge may mean having good education. But Hill doesn’t agree to the notion that “Knowledge is Power.” According to Hill, “knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into define plans of action and directed to a definite end.”

Therefore, it doesn’t mean that if you have no education or if you are not intelligent, you can never become rich.

Most professors have but little money. They specialize in teaching knowledge, but they do not specialize on the organization, or the use of knowledge.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

If getting rich starts as easy as having a desire and other faculties of the mind, how come not all people become rich? In Part 3, we will talk about why people fail to attain their goals and desires.

Think and Grow Rich Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Think and Grow Rich Book Summary Part 1

Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich ranks among the best selling self-improvement book of all time. First published in 1937, the book continues to inspire millions who aspire for riches. Riches can mean monetary for many, but Hill acknowledges other forms of riches like spiritual, mental and material estates.

Think and Grow Rich is a product of the author’s research and interviews of the richest and most notable men of his time. Among them are Andrew Carnegie, Thomas A. Edison, Henry Ford, Charles M. Schwab, John D. Rockefeller, Woodrow Wilson and Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.

The book has some controversial points. I would even question his method of research and his sources. Nonetheless, Hill has plenty of advice for men and women who aims to achieve riches and success.

Think and Grow Rich Takeaways

Desire is the starting point of all achievement
Put your desires into actions through organized planning
Act with Persistence to reach your goals.
Fill your mind with positive thoughts, emotions, and attitude.
Tap on the power of the Master Mind group

Introduction to Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill has provided 13 Steps to turn your thoughts into riches. Each step is easy to follow and understand. Some steps can be controversial. I think that the others steps can be skipped. Despite these, the book provide a good baseline to self-improvement. It gives a concrete step on where to start and the values needed to reach your personal goals.

When riches begin to come they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding during all those lean years.
Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Below are the 13 Steps to turn your thoughts into riches from the book Think and Grow Rich.

Desire – The starting point of all achievement
Faith – Visualization of, and Belief in Attainment of Desire
Autosuggestion – The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind
Specialized Knowledge – Personal Experiences or Observations
Imagination – The Workshop of the Mind
Organized Planning – The Crystallization of Desire into Action
Decision – The Mastery of Procrastination
Persistence – The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith
Power of the Master Mind – The Driving Force
The Mastery of Sex Transmutation
The Subconscious Mind – The Connecting Link
The Brain – A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought
The Sixth Sense – The Door to the Temple of Wisdom

You can follow each step as written by Napoleon Hill. Following all 13 may sound too much but many of the steps are related to each other. After mastering one step, the others will come naturally.

The next parts of my Think and Grow Rich Book Summary, Iwill not discuss each step one by one. Instead, I will impart my key learnings while reading the book. Hopefully, it will help you transform your thoughts into the riches you desire, monetary or otherwise.

Think and Grow Rich Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

My Rule of 72

I made a new rule. I should be within 72 kilos.

My ideal weight is between 60-76 kilos but I feel good at 72 kilos right now. I don’t feel too bloated. I don’t look too thin. Just right.

With this rule, it is easy for me assess if I should eat less, or I can have a cheat day. I can quickly decide if I need more exercise, or I can skip a day at the gym.

If I weigh myself in the morning, and I am 73 kilos or more, I will be active for the day. I will have a fill of greens on my plate and eat lesser carbs and sugar.

But if my weight is 71.9 and below, it’s a good time to have a cheat day as a reward for myself.

The goal is to stay between 72.0 and 72.9 kilos.

I might stay on this weight for a while. But I will try to go lower. Maybe make it a Rule of 71 and or a Rule of 70.

I remember being 69 kilos and many find me too skinny already. The Rule of 69 will probably be for something else.

Love: A Heavenly Definition

Pastor Randy Skeete gave a sermon about Love during our annual Christian Couples Circle retreat.

The Love that is portrayed in the movies, soap operas, books, songs and other medium is totally different from the Love that was designed and “Made in Heaven”. Love should be offer-centered, just as Christ offered himself to us.

Here are three main points from the sermon that I wish to share. I hope it enlightens you as much as it has enlightened me.

John 3:16 – Love is giving the best and everything you have to your spouse.

A powerful verse about how God loves us sets an example on how we are to love our spouse: Love Gives! And we should give the best that we can and everything that we have. Love does not hold back.

John 15:12 – Love is a command.

The verse is simple: God commands us to love one another as He had loved us. Love, therefore, is a command. Love is not a feeling. This means that we should Love regardless of what we feel. We are to love our spouses even if we feel angry, sad, or hurt.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Love is the Greatest

This chapter is famous for verses 4-7. Love is patient, Love is kind… and so forth. But the first three chapters gives us another important message. Paul says that without Love everything else is meaningless. We can be living with our spouse in a beautiful house, go to dinner dates, travel to exotic places, but if it was done without Love, it is for nothing. In everything, Love is the context.

Finally, these verses mean that You don’t Love a person for what the person can do for you. Instead, Love by giving yourself for the benefit of others.

The Love Equation

As an engineer, I define love as this:

Love is inversely proportional to expectation.

Meaning, the more expectations you have, the less love you feel. The less expectations you have, the more love you feel.

Let me explain by stating the examples.

During courtship, our expectations are usually low. We don’t expect a text message. We don’t expect a letter. We don’t expect the intentional glance. We don’t expect the gifts. But when these expectations happen, we get knocked off our feet. This is where we think we are most loved.

After courtship, the expectations start to increase. We expect regular calls. We expect gifts in every occasions. We expect full attention. When these expectations happen, then that’s good. But when the expectation fails to happen, we feel unloved. Conflict begins.

In marriage, the expectations are at its highest. It should be happily ever after, right? We expect complete devotion. We expect total understanding. We expect infinite intimacy. When these expectations happen, then that’s good. But when the expectation fails to happen, we feel betrayed. We no longer feel love.

Thus, it is simple to rediscover love.
Lower the expectations.
You will find love again in the smaller things.

Love is not enough

Relationships based only on Love can easily crumble.

Love is feeble.
Even after Love was earned, it can quickly fade for trivial reasons.
Respect, once earned, lasts longer.

Death separate lovers.
But in Death, Respect is manisfested.

Thus, when Love fades, let Respect remain.
Only then can the relationship survive to give Love another chance.

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary Part 4

Now that we have learned the Primary Love Language of our spouse, the next logical step is to express love in their Primary Love Language.

Here are The Five Love Languages again.

Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
Physical Touch

Sounds easy but some love languages doesn’t come naturally of us. For example, some people feel uneasy saying Words of Affirmation. Others are not very touchy and Physical Touch makes them uncomfortable especially in public. And what if our spouse Love Tank is fullest if we cook for them but we know we are not good in cooking at all?

Chapman insists that we need to learn how to show love to our spouse in their Primary Love Language. It may not be easy but it can be learned. It is similar to learning a new dialect. If our spouse can only speak and understand a foreign language, we will strive to learn that language for us to communicate properly.

When an action doesn’t come naturally to you, it is a greater expression of love.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

The book The 5 Love Languages contains many real life examples of showing love in the different Love Languages. You can pick one suggestion that feels easier for you. As you get more comfortable, try another one and then another and another. Soon, loving your spouse in their Primary Love Language would come naturally to you.

This doesn’t mean that you can no longer express love in other ways. You can still show love in any of the 5 Love Languages. Expressing love in different ways can make the relationship more exciting. Just remember that it is through their Primary Love Language that their Love Tank gets filled faster.

Sweeter the Second Time Around

Chapman has encountered several couples with troubled marriages. His advice is the same, “Learn the love language of your spouse and choose to speak it”.

The husband and the wife can choose to learn it together at the same time. That is the ideal scenario. But Chapman has also counselled just the husband or just the wife. The other partner remains stoic. Yet, as one partner starts to fill the Love Tank of the other, he or she tends to reciprocate. Love is contagious.

The decision to love your spouse holds tremendous potential. Learning his/her primary love language makes that potential a reality. Love really does “make the world go round.”
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

Act now

Apply what you have learned from the book Happy Money with these suggestions:

Discover your own Primary Love Language by asking the questions or taking the test mentioned in Part 3.
Discover the Primary Love Language of your spouse.
List down several ways to communicate love with your spouse’s Primary Love Language. Fill their Love Tank using your list.

Happy Valentines!!!

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary Part 3

According to Chapman, each of us has a primary love language which speaks more deeply than other expessions of love. Discovering the primary love language of our spouse is essential in keep their emotional Love Tank full. In this part of The 5 Love Languages Book Summary, we will learn ways of finding out our primary love language and that of our spouse. But first, what is a love tank?

The Emotional Love Tank

All of us are seeking for love. Imagine that each of us has a “Love Tank” that needs to be filled with love. Every time love is given to us, it adds up to our Love Tank. A Love Tank that is full means that our emotional need has been exceedingly meet. When the Love Tank of our spouse is full, it means that they are secure in our love.

“I am convinced that keeping the emotional love tank full is as important to a marriage as maintaining the proper oil level is to an automobile.”
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

However, if our Love Tank is empty, we feel unwanted, undesired and insecure. An empty Love Tank for both couples can be devastating to their marriage.

This is where the learning the Primary Love Language comes in. It is the fastest way of filling up the Love Tank to the brim. We may already be communicating love to our spouse. But if it is not their primary love language, it only gets filled a drop at a time. You can give all the gifts you can but if their primary love language is quality time, then you may wonder why your spouse doesn’t even acknowledge your effort.

But learning to speak the primary love language of our spouse can radically affect their behavior and your marriage. People behave differently when their love tanks are full.

Discovering the Primary Love Language

Chapman suggested three ways in discovering your Primary Love Language or that of your spouse.

1. Ask yourself “What makes you feel most loved by your spouse?” or “What do you desire above all else?” If the answer to those questions isn’t obvious, ask yourself the opposite instead. “What does your spouse do or say or fail to do say that hurts you deeply.”

2. Look back over your marraige and ask yourself, “What have I most often requested of my spouse?” What you may be asking for is your way of yearning for love from your spouse.

3. Another way to discover your primary love language is to examine what you do or express love to your spouse. Chances are what you are doing is what you wish your spouse would do for you.

4. Take the Take the 5 Love Languages official assessment to discover your love language and begin improving your relationships. You can take the 5 Love Language test online at https://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/

It is possible that you may have more than one Primary Love Language. Just like some people can speak two dialects. If this is the case, then your spouse is very lucky to have more than one way to fill your Love Tank. But it very rare to have three or more primary Love Languages.

It is also possible that your Primary Love Language changed through the years. But it may take time for it to develop. Most of the time, our Primary Love Language is the same through out our lifetime.

Once you have discovered your own Primary Love Language, let your spouse ask the same questions or to take the same test. “Once you discover the Primary Love Language of your spouse, you are limited only by your imagination on ways to express love.”

We are talking about love, and love is something you do for someone else, not something you do for yourself.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

In Part 4 of The 5 Love Languages Book Summary, we will discover other ways where this concept is applicable.

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary Part 2

Our second part of the 5 Love Languages Book Summary will discuss each Love Languages and learn some examples on how to express Love in that specific language.

Love Language #1: Words of Affirmation

Word of Affirmation is an act of Love that uses “words to build up the other person.”

Verbal compliments, or words of appreciation, are powerful communicators of love. They are best expressed in simple, straightforward statements of affirmation.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

These are honest complements and kinds words that we say to our partner. The words will have an encouraging and inspiring effect. Some examples are:

You look great on that dress.
I really appreciate your washing the dishes tonight.
Thank you for spending time with me.
You should continue painting. You are good at it.

The words should be delivered sincerely and must be said in a soft and kind manner. There is a difference in saying “I love you” versus “I love you?”.

Love Language #2: Quality Time

Quality Time is an act of Love by giving your partner your undivided attention. Sitting together in front of a television is not necessarily having quality time. What matters most is the attention given to your partner.

Having Quality Time doesn’t have to mean going out on expensive dates or engaging in romantic getaways. Quality Time can simply involve having quality conversations and quality activities at home.

A central aspect of quality time is togetherness. I do not mean proximity…. Togetherness has to do with focused attention.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

In having Quality Time, the activity being shared is not the main thing. What is important is the emotional connection being made and that you are spending focused time with each other. “The emphasis is on being together, doing things together, giving each other undivided attention.”

Love Language #3: Receiving Gifts

Receiving Gifts is an act of Love that involves giving. This act is very visible and is one of the easiest love language to learn and to express.

While giving gifts usually involves money, the monetary value of the gift is not essential. A gift can be a handwritten letter, a small souvenir from a trip, or a handmade project.

It doesn’t matter whether it costs money. What is important is that you thought of him.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

When giving gifts, don’t wait for a special occasion. Surprise your partner with a gift at anytime of the year.

Love Language #4: Acts of Service

Acts of Service is an act of Love by doing things for your partner. This requires thought, planning, time, effort and energy. Actions such as cooking a meal, cleaning the room, changing the baby’s diaper, doing the groceries, running erands — they are all acts of service.

By acts of service, I mean doing things you know your spouse would like you to do. You seek to please her by serving her, to express your love for her by doing things for her.
The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman

This truly means that actions speak louder than words! In today’s society, there is a very thin line on what a husband should do in the house and what a wife should be doing. It is now acceptable that the husband and the wife switch roles. The husband can do household chores. The wife can find work and build her career. What is important is to meet the emotional needs of your partner on whatever roles they have agreed upon.

But a word of caution, the act of service must be given as a choice. It cannot be coerced. Being demanding to your partner or criticizing the act will have a negative effect. Instead, learn to make requests to each other instead of making demands.

Love Language #5: Physical Touch

The last love language is Physical Touch. Since we were babies, a touch has been an expression of love. As we grow older, Physical Touch can mean so much more to others.
Physical touch is not limited to sexual intercourse. Holding hands, kissing, and embracing are also ways of communicating love to your spouse.

The author mentions the common mistake that men often assume that their primary love language is Physical Touch since their desire for sexual intercourse is intense. However, the sexual desire might be just physically based. The desire for Physical Touch much be meeting an emotional need for it to be a primary love language. “If he does not enjoy physical touch at other times and in nonsexual ways, it may not be his love language at all.”

To recap the Five Love Langauges are:

Words of Affirmation
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
Physical Touch

For the next part of our summary, we will discuss ways on how to discover our own Primary Love Language and that of our spouse.

The 5 Love Languages Book Summary
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4