Here is a detailed summary of the 13 Principles of wealth and success, which Napoleon Hill derived from his 20-year study of the world's most successful self-made individuals.
The starting point of all achievement. It is not merely a wish, but a burning, definite desire for riches. You must establish a clear statement detailing the specific amount of money, the deadline, and what you intend to give in return for it.
The element that turns desire into reality. You must cultivate an unwavering belief in your ability to achieve your goal. This involves using auto-suggestion to embed positive, successful beliefs into your subconscious mind.
The medium for influencing the subconscious mind. It involves repeatedly feeding your subconscious mind with your clearly defined goal and belief, often by visualizing and reading your written goal statement aloud.
Success requires deep, practical knowledge in a specific field, not general knowledge. The key is not knowing everything, but knowing where to acquire the necessary specialized knowledge (or who to consult) when needed.
The "workshop of the mind" where ideas and plans are formed. Successful people are able to use their imagination to create new ideas and vividly visualize their goals, which is essential for creative problem-solving and planning.
The transformation of desire into action. You must create specific, workable, and concrete plans to achieve your goal and then immediately put them into action. Plans should be continuously refined as you execute them.
The ability to make quick and firm decisions. Wealthy individuals make decisions promptly and change them slowly, if at all. People who fail are often those who postpone decisions and easily allow them to be influenced.
The sustained effort necessary to endure obstacles and failures. Persistence is the forceful, determined action that combines desire, faith, and plans to bring about tangible success. There is no difficulty that can stand against persistent effort.
The principle of cooperation. It involves the coordination of knowledge and effort between two or more people who work toward a common goal in a spirit of harmony. Forming a Master Mind group grants access to collective wisdom and energy.
The principle of utilizing and redirecting one of the most powerful natural human energies—sexual energy—into creative achievement. It involves converting this powerful drive into a force for wealth, fame, or professional success.
The filing cabinet of the mind that records and acts upon your thoughts and emotions. You must consciously feed it positive thoughts and goals repeatedly so that it works tirelessly to bring your objectives into reality.
The physical organ that acts as the broadcasting and receiving station for thought. It allows communication between the mind and the Master Mind group, serving as the physical instrument for all 13 principles.
The apex of the philosophy, developed only after mastering the previous 12 principles. It is the connection to Infinite Intelligence, appearing as intuition or inspiration that guides you to success.
These 13 principles are interconnected and must be thoroughly practiced to unleash their full potential, not merely understood.