A month or two ago, I heard Dan Kennedy recommend one of Napoleon Hill's lesser known books, Get Rich With Peace of Mind. Whatever he said intrigued me enough to buy the book. On the same recording, Kennedy talked about how ironic it was that Hill died poor, and that the real success was Hill's protege, Clement Stone.

I just finally started reading this book this morning, and on page vi I found an amazing statement that I totally agree with. Hill says that real wealth is not measured by money alone. People actually want money because they presume it's an end to something else. And here is his definition of that something else, in part:

It is freedom from negative forces which may take possession of the mind, and from any such negative attitudes as worry and inferiority.

It is freedom from any feeling of want.

It is freedom from self-induced mental and physical ailments of the kind which chronically degrade life.

It is freedom from all fears, especially the seven basic fears we shall expose in all their ugliness.

It is freedom from the common human weakness of seeking something for nothing.

It is possession of the joy of work and accomplishment.

It is the habit of being one's self and doing one's own thinking.

It is the habit of laughing at the petty misfortunes which may overtake you.

[There's more, but the book is still under copyright protection, so that's as much as I can quote here.]

Are balance sheets and earnings statements obvious and irrefutable proof of success? I don't believe so. Not by a long shot.

Hill wrote this book in his eighties, and regardless of his monetary net worth at that time, or at the time he died, it's clear to me that he had the more profound type of wealth in abundance.

Peace of mind in Hill's sense is wealth beyond measure. In this holiday season, I hope that you all have the opportunity to experience it.

Sincerely,
Marcia Yudkin

Awesome post Marcia.

Thank you!

Here's something I read the other day that has so much truth in it as well:

"Your outer world is simply a reflection of your inner world! A lack of money is not a problem, it is merely a symptom of what's going on underneath! The fastest and only way to permanently change your financial situation on the outside, is to first change it on the inside."

Marcia,

To set the record straight, Napoleon Hill did not die poor. To the contrary, when he died on November 8, 1970, at age 87 in his retirement home on Paris Mountain near Greenville, S. C., he was quite wealthy. As I state in the appendix to Hill's "Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised" (which I edited and annotated) "He [Hill] was in relatively good health up until his sudden death and had recently undergone a successful cataract operation -- the better to allow him to continue his lifelong habit of reading, research, and reflection on the principles of success." He made and lost fortunes and stared at bankruptcy numerous times throughout his early life and into middle age, but when he died, he left a sizable fortune, despite that fact that a decade earlier he had used significant personal assets to establish a foundation to carry on his work.

You are quite right about Hill's emphasis on "riches" being far more than financial wealth. Many people make the mistake of believing that "Think and Grow Rich!" is too materialistic, with its emphasis on wealth-building skills, and too self-centered, with its emphasis on self-reliance, personal achievement, and getting ahead in the world. Such people fail to understand how "spiritual" and altruistic Hill's philosophy of success is at heart.

He once wrote that his sole object in publishing "is to bring men and women together in a spirit of closer cooperation, regardless of race or creed, and cause them to realize the award which awaits those who place principle above the dollar and humanity above the individual; to inspire those who have not yet 'arrived' and help them to realize that the rainbow's end can be found only by the pathway which leads through the field of useful service;...to bring men to realize that success lies not so much in owning property, as in rendering service which helps to ameliorate the hardships of humanity and deposits something to the credit of posterity..."

I for several years was executive editor of "Think & Grow Rich Newsletter." I had many dinner and other conversations with Hill's official biographer. A Hill nephew was kind enough to let me sit at the oaken desk where Hill wrote many of his books. I learned from their first-hand experience. Hill died with money in his pocket and friends in his heart. He led a very rich life.

Ross,

Thank you very much for adding that information. I am not sure why Dan Kennedy said that Hill left next to no money to his widow when he died and that Hill was monetarily unsuccessful. In any case, I found the book I quoted inspiring and wanted to share its spirit with this board.

Happy holidays,
Marcia Yudkin

Marcia,

Excellent post. What I'd like to add to that is something said in John Forde's excellent newsletter "Copywriters Roundtable," in the issue that just came out today.

The article is absolutely excellent, and the things he talks about resonate with me. Let me reprint his article here, for posterity... And copywriters, please note these if you ever want a richer, fuller, more blessed life...

A wonderful message, Marcia.

Interesting quote that you choose, Stephen.

And I agree with it, up to a point. But I also think that it's somewhat counter to the spirit of what Napolean Hill and John Forde were communicating.

I know this a bit treacly, but I think there's a first things first aspect that needs to be kept in mind whenever we start contemplating the "attraction" mindset.

None of the things that were mentioned are affected by money. Not one.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm extremely interested in money.

But I find it noteworthy that Napolean made and lost more than one fortune.

I'd wager he was able to look at "poverty" and "wealth" with equanimity. See I don't think your outer world is a reflection of your inner world, if you're living by those principles.

If you're living right, people will look at you and see how rich you are, regardless of your circumstances.

Of course; all things being equal, I'll take the cash.

A.