‘It’s Epic’: Millennial and Gen-Z Entrepreneurs on Drawing Inspiration from ‘Think and Grow Rich’

“I will never forget the feeling I had when I first finished reading Napoleon Hill’s classic book, ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I felt empowered as if I could conquer the world.”

Napoleon Hill wrote ‘Think and Grow Rich’ in 1937 and it still speaks to today’s entrepreneurs. The book’s portrayal of imagination and its impact on the subconscious mind is an eye-opener. Mr. Hill is revered as a trailblazer for his extraordinary depiction of cognitive scenarios that lead to the creation of wealth. From the world's leading entrepreneurs, thought leaders, cultural icons, psychiatrists, to neurosurgeons, the author continues to inspire men and women across geographies.  

Robert Herjavec, a judge on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’, is a self-made tech mogul. He recommended the book (to young entrepreneurs) while talking to CNBC in a video-call from Google’s headquarters back in 2017.

“If I had to recommend one book, it would have to be Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich.’” “It’s epic.”

Daymond John, founder of fashion brand FUBU and investor on ‘Shark Tank,’ said he learned one of his top productivity tricks from the book.

“The first time I read about goal-setting was in Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I was 16 years old.”

“I read the book every night before I go to bed, so it’s the last thing I think about,” he says. “And I read them every morning when I wake up.”

Clifford Jones, who is an author, shared the experience after reading the book.

“I will never forget the feeling I had when I first finished reading Napoleon Hill’s classic book, ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ I felt empowered as if I could conquer the world.”

“For me, the most powerful lesson in the book is ‘definiteness of purpose.’ In chapter six, Hill addresses imagination and teaches us that, ‘… definiteness of purpose is the starting point from which one must begin.’”

There are several ground-breaking concepts that ‘Think and Grow Rich’ manages to depict charmingly is the reason it continues to be relevant today. One of the ideas that struck me the most is that there is no association between passion and purpose. The relation between the two is perfectly drawn in the book. Simply put, passion is related to impulsivity, whereas purpose is connected to a definite practical plan. This clearly hints that passion and purpose are two different things. If you long for something, doesn’t mean you will succeed at it. However, a definite practical plan about launching a business, for instance, is bound to bear fruit.

Importantly, here are the book’s most notable lessons that millennial and Gen-Z entrepreneurs would want to consider while launching a business: Thoughts are powerful things, Desire, Faith, Specialized Knowledge, Imagination, Shun Procrastination, Mastermind Alliance, Sex Transmutation, Subconscious Mind, and Fear.

The quotes used in this piece were extracted from CNBC and The Business Journals.