It is impossible to achieve a goal in work or business, without the involvement of others. This much is clear. But this chapter goes further to suggest, that although you have within you great powers of thought, the way to supercharge your success, is to connect up with others. Without even being aware of the concept of the mastermind, I have experienced the great benefits of having a few people sitting around a table "brainstorming". I think it is true, what he says, that there is a synergy that occurs when you combine peoples' thoughts together.
The book gives a mystical edge to this process, but I think it can logically be reduced to the benefits of lateral thinking, and seeing things from a different point of view. The new perspective in this case, being made available to you by someone elses take on the situation.
But Napoleon Hill's specifications for a mastermind group are fairly stringent. "Always maintain harmony within the group". This is a tough one. Obviously it is desirable, but is it always possible? I think it is hard enough to find people sympathetic to the concept, without finding people who can exist in harmony during this process. And while it may be possible to assemble a group of people to discuss a business opportunity or work opportunity, it may be more difficult to utilise this process for personal goals, although the benefits would be clear.
Showing posts with label Grow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grow. Show all posts
Friday, 24 August 2007
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Imagination
This chapter feeds off the concept in the last chapter, that it is ideas that will set you apart from the rest. It is imagination that you will rely on to create new plans, and it is the strength of your plans that will determine your success.
Brian Tracy, the prolific self-improvement author suggests writing down 20 solutions to every problem. This technique feeds directly into the concept that producing more means eventually producing better. Out of 20 solutions, 19 may be hopeless, but 1 could be just the solution you were looking for. And the more ideas you have, the more your mind makes connections, and you can come up with new and interesting possibilities.
Its interesting to note that throughout history, some of the most successful people in the arts and science (Picasso, Edison) have also been the most prolific. They produced a lot, and of their output, some of it was brilliant, but equally some of it was not-so-brilliant.
I'm still coming to terms with the sad fact that I will not write a brilliant blog on my first attempt. I will need to keep writing, and producing post after post, before I can produce excellence. And unfortunately in amongst some of my output will be some total crap...
Brian Tracy, the prolific self-improvement author suggests writing down 20 solutions to every problem. This technique feeds directly into the concept that producing more means eventually producing better. Out of 20 solutions, 19 may be hopeless, but 1 could be just the solution you were looking for. And the more ideas you have, the more your mind makes connections, and you can come up with new and interesting possibilities.
Its interesting to note that throughout history, some of the most successful people in the arts and science (Picasso, Edison) have also been the most prolific. They produced a lot, and of their output, some of it was brilliant, but equally some of it was not-so-brilliant.
I'm still coming to terms with the sad fact that I will not write a brilliant blog on my first attempt. I will need to keep writing, and producing post after post, before I can produce excellence. And unfortunately in amongst some of my output will be some total crap...
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Specialized Knowledge
This chapter talks about the two types of knowledge, general and specialized, and obviously (given the title of the chapter) emphasises that specialized is better than general knowledge. A comforting thought to all of us who aren't very good at trivial pursuits.
Specialized knowledge involves playing to your strengths. It involves identifying an area of knowledge or skill, which you can use to your advantage. And the key word is "use":
"Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end."
But the reassuring point about knowledge that this chapter makes is that you don't necessarily need to spend the rest of your life in a library or the inside of a university lecture hall to get knowledge. In fact, you don't need to have the knowledge in your own mind. You just need to have access to the knowledge. Henry Ford had an office with a row of "electric push-buttons" to summon to his aid any man who had the knowledge he was seeking. Today we call this a cell phone, but the message is the same. As long as you know where and how to find the knowledge it is as good as cramming it into your mind.
Specialized knowledge involves playing to your strengths. It involves identifying an area of knowledge or skill, which you can use to your advantage. And the key word is "use":
"Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end."
But the reassuring point about knowledge that this chapter makes is that you don't necessarily need to spend the rest of your life in a library or the inside of a university lecture hall to get knowledge. In fact, you don't need to have the knowledge in your own mind. You just need to have access to the knowledge. Henry Ford had an office with a row of "electric push-buttons" to summon to his aid any man who had the knowledge he was seeking. Today we call this a cell phone, but the message is the same. As long as you know where and how to find the knowledge it is as good as cramming it into your mind.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Faith
The self-confidence formula in this chapter is a little short on detail, but I think it raises an important point (among many):
"I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person."
Thirty minutes seems a long time to just sit there thinking about this. Anyone who has tried meditation will know how hard it is to sit there for 20 minutes. I wonder how many people who have read TAGR actually followed this piece of advice.
But it emphasises the point that to achieve a goal, you must in some way become the kind of person who would achieve that goal. If you want to be a successful investor but you spend everything you earn plus some more, you won't have any money left over to invest, and will not succeed. To be able to invest successfully, you must be (or become) the kind of person who is disciplined enough to maintain a savings plan, before you can even consider investing. Put another way: "to have more, you must be more".
"I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person."
Thirty minutes seems a long time to just sit there thinking about this. Anyone who has tried meditation will know how hard it is to sit there for 20 minutes. I wonder how many people who have read TAGR actually followed this piece of advice.
But it emphasises the point that to achieve a goal, you must in some way become the kind of person who would achieve that goal. If you want to be a successful investor but you spend everything you earn plus some more, you won't have any money left over to invest, and will not succeed. To be able to invest successfully, you must be (or become) the kind of person who is disciplined enough to maintain a savings plan, before you can even consider investing. Put another way: "to have more, you must be more".
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Desire
It all begins with desire. Without a strong desire for a goal, you can't achieve it. That sounds self-evident, but I think a lot of people ignore this. I have done more than my fair share of wishing in my life. Wishing is vague, its half -hearted and it doesn't usually work. What this chapter talks about is desiring something completely. Committing to it unconditionally. To commit to something, you need to desire it, a lot. Without this strong desire, once the initial enthusiasm has passed, you won't have anything to keep you going.
Its the difference between someone saying "I wish I had more money" and another person saying "I am absolutely committed to saving $1 million by January 1st 2010". Who would be most likely to achieve their goal?
In this chapter, the story I really like is about Mme. Schuman-Heink, the opera singer, who, on her first ever audition was told by the director of the Vienna Court Opera she wasn't cut out for singing and to give up. The line from the book is fantastic:
"The director of the Vienna Court Opera knew much about the technique of singing. He knew little about the power of desire, when it assumes the proportion of an obsession."
Sometimes people have a goal, but because they are finding it hard to get motivated to consistently do anything about it, they question their actual desire for the goal.What do you do in those situations?
Well, two things:
1. You can decide maybe you dont really want it enough, and give up (what I used to do)
2. You can realise that desire does not always arrive full strength, and with some goals, the desire can be cultivated 0ver time. (This is my approach now.) There are stories later on in TAGR about people mulling over desires for many years, until they became an obsession. You don't have to be absolutely passionate about something straight away.
Its the difference between someone saying "I wish I had more money" and another person saying "I am absolutely committed to saving $1 million by January 1st 2010". Who would be most likely to achieve their goal?
In this chapter, the story I really like is about Mme. Schuman-Heink, the opera singer, who, on her first ever audition was told by the director of the Vienna Court Opera she wasn't cut out for singing and to give up. The line from the book is fantastic:
"The director of the Vienna Court Opera knew much about the technique of singing. He knew little about the power of desire, when it assumes the proportion of an obsession."
Sometimes people have a goal, but because they are finding it hard to get motivated to consistently do anything about it, they question their actual desire for the goal.What do you do in those situations?
Well, two things:
1. You can decide maybe you dont really want it enough, and give up (what I used to do)
2. You can realise that desire does not always arrive full strength, and with some goals, the desire can be cultivated 0ver time. (This is my approach now.) There are stories later on in TAGR about people mulling over desires for many years, until they became an obsession. You don't have to be absolutely passionate about something straight away.
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