You thought I said there were Thirty? Why am I now saying 31?

THE THIRTY-"ONE" MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE

How Many Of These Are Holding You Back?

21. THE HABIT OF INDISCRIMINATE SPENDING. The spend-thrift cannot succeed, mainly because he stands eternally in FEAR OF POVERTY. Form the habit of systematic saving by putting aside a definite percentage of your income. Money in the bank gives one a very safe foundation of COURAGE when bargaining for the sale of personal services. Without money, one must take what one is offered, and be glad to get it.

22. LACK OF ENTHUSIASM. Without enthusiasm one cannot be convincing. Moreover, enthusiasm is contagious, and the person who has it, under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.

23. INTOLERANCE. The person with a "closed" mind on any subject seldom gets ahead. Intolerance means that one has stopped acquiring knowledge. The most damaging forms of intolerance are those connected with religious, racial, and political differences of opinion.

24. INTEMPERANCE. The most damaging forms of intemperance are connected with eating, strong drink, and sexual activities. Overindulgence in any of these is fatal to success.

25. INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other reasons combined. It is a fault which no well-informed business man, or leader will tolerate.

26. POSSESSION OF POWER THAT WAS NOT ACQUIRED THROUGH SELF EFFORT. (Sons and daughters of wealthy men, and others who inherit money which they did not earn). Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradually, is often fatal to success. QUICK RICHES are more dangerous than poverty.

27. INTENTIONAL DISHONESTY. There is no substitute for honesty. One may be temporarily dishonest by force of circumstances over which one has no control, without permanent damage. But, there is NO HOPE for the person who is dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up with him, and he will pay by loss of reputation, and perhaps even loss of liberty.

28. EGOTISM AND VANITY. These qualities serve as red lights which warn others to keep away. THEY ARE FATAL TO SUCCESS.

29. GUESSING INSTEAD OF THINKING. Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire FACTS with which to THINK ACCURATELY. They prefer to act on "opinions" created by guesswork or snap-judgments.

30. LACK OF CAPITAL. This is a common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time, without sufficient reserve of capital to absorb the shock of their mistakes, and to carry them over until they have established a REPUTATION.

31. Under this, name any particular cause of failure from which you have suffered that has not been included in the foregoing list.

In these thirty major causes of failure is found a description of the tragedy of life, which obtains for practically every person who tries and fails. It will be helpful if you can induce someone who knows you well to go over this list with you, and help to analyze you by the thirty causes of failure. It may be beneficial if you if you try this alone. Most people cannot see themselves as others see them. You may be one who cannot.

Do you agree with Napoleon Hill on this one?

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written by Inigo, February 29, 2008

I agree with Mr. Hill in most of the reasons he postuled and as a very passionate Psychology student myself with some heavy struggles in life nonethless, he has made me focus deeply on some key points he postuled and here's hoping I can succesfuly learn from them and reshape my life and run it in the right direction before I turn 30 and become a highly succesful Psychologist and human being as well, but yet I only have one single complain: I DOUBLE-RECEIVED Part 3 of these spreads and I missed #2 and since these are the kind of topics that MOSTLY interest me at this young stage of my life, where it's all about preparing oneself for the mature age and the social enviroment I PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BEG you Mr. Hill to send me the Part 2 of the series, I would be VERY grateful if you could send it to me before it gets deleted from the databank files Thank You

teacher
written by Bonita A., March 12, 2008

I took some time to read all the 3 parts and think they are very insightful. I'm sure that everyone who gets to read this will be able to at least relate more than one cause of failure to their own life experience or profession. I agreed it is true that most people cannot see themselves as others do, so it is wise to have somebody we trust to help us evaluate ourselves. From looking at the list alone, I am glad to say that it opens up my eyes more than ever before. Luckily, I believe I could partially see myself as others see me. But to be absolutely sure of our own beliefs, I do think that everyone needs someone who could be the other side for us, to fill us up with what we may not already know about how others see us. This way we can know ourselves better than if we are just looking with our own eyes.
I would like to add another cause of failure which I didn't see on your list.
"Indolent or Sluggish or the Quality of being inactive" can also be the Number 31 major cause of failure. I would say that this trait closely relates to "Procrastination" on the list, but think that it could also stand alone by itself. What do you think?

Bonita A.

"Self-improvement is an entirely endless task in everyone's life"

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