Napoleon Hill was an American author, born in 1883 in a one-room cabin in Wise County, Virginia, whose 1937 book Think and Grow Rich became one of the best-selling books of its kind ever written. [1] His ideas on purpose, planning and a positive mental attitude still shape personal development writing today, and the foundation that carries his name continues to teach them. [2]
Who is Napoleon Hill?
Napoleon grew up in the mountains of south-west Virginia. He began writing at 13 as a “mountain reporter” for small-town newspapers, and journalism became the start of a long career as a writer. [1]
According to the foundation, his early assignment to interview successful people of his day led him to spend years studying what made them achieve their goals. He set out his findings first in The Law of Success (1928) and then, in a shorter and more popular form, in Think and Grow Rich (1937). [1]
He went on to lecture widely, write further books and, with W. Clement Stone, popularise the idea of a Positive Mental Attitude. [2]
Before he died in 1970, he set up the Napoleon Hill Foundation, a nonprofit educational institution that still keeps his books in print, runs courses and shares a free daily “Thought for the Day”. [1] [2]
His approach in brief
- Know what you want. A definite major purpose.
- Write a plan. With a date and a first step.
- Repeat it daily. Read it aloud, morning and night.
- Keep going. Persistence and a Master Mind group.
At a glance
Known for: Think and Grow Rich (1937)
Topics: Purpose, goals, persistence, positive mental attitude
Format: Books, lectures and the Napoleon Hill Foundation
Books: Think and Grow Rich, The Law of Success, Outwitting the Devil
Foundation: naphill.org
Good fit if
You want a clear goal, a simple daily routine to keep it in mind, and a classic text that many later self-help authors built on.
Our take
The foundation stone of modern success writing. Start with the chapter on desire in Think and Grow Rich and write your own definite purpose.
Napoleon Hill’s key principles
These come from Think and Grow Rich and his later lectures. Tap a card to read more.
Definiteness of purpose
Napoleon’s starting point is a definite major purpose: knowing exactly what you want, rather than a vague wish. In Think and Grow Rich he calls desire the starting point of all achievement. [1]
His most quoted line sums it up: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
The six steps of desire
The second chapter of Think and Grow Rich turns desire into six practical steps:
- Fix in your mind the exact goal you want.
- Decide what you will give in return for it.
- Set a definite date by which you intend to reach it.
- Create a definite plan, and begin at once, whether you feel ready or not.
- Write it all out in a clear, concise statement.
- Read the statement aloud twice daily, once before sleep and once after waking.
He wrote these with money in mind, but readers apply them to any goal.
Autosuggestion
Napoleon called step six autosuggestion: deliberately repeating your goal so it sinks in. He borrowed the term from Émile Coué, whose own method of positive repetition was popular at the time.
His advice was to read your statement with feeling, as though the goal were already on its way, and to picture it clearly while you do. Today this sits alongside affirmations and visualisation.
The Master Mind
The Master Mind is his name for “the coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”
In practice it means a small group of supportive people who meet regularly to share ideas, encourage each other and hold each other to their plans. Mastermind groups are still widely used by business owners and creatives today.
Persistence
Napoleon gave a whole chapter to persistence, which he saw as the habit that turns desire into results. He believed most people give up just before success, and that “every adversity carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”
His suggested habits for building persistence are a definite purpose, a definite plan, a mind closed to discouraging influences, and a friendly alliance with people who encourage you.
Positive Mental Attitude
In his later years Napoleon taught that a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) is the one thing a person has complete control over. He worked with W. Clement Stone to spread the idea, and their book Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude appeared in 1960. [2]
You can hear him explain it in his own words in the 1963 lecture film at the top of this page.
Videos with Napoleon Hill
Hand-picked and checked one by one: rare films of Napoleon Hill himself and a classic condensed narration.
Start here
More from Hill
Articles about Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill’s books
Napoleon’s books are still in print around the world, many in low-cost editions. These are the best places to start.
Find his books in your country: US · UK · Canada · Australia · India.
Where to learn his principles
The Napoleon Hill Foundation in Wise, Virginia, offers a home study course, online classes and a certification programme, and sends a free daily “Thought for the Day” by email. [2]
His books are available worldwide in many languages, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and India.
What the Research Shows
Napoleon Hill wrote before modern psychology tested these ideas, but three of his core habits, a definite goal, a written plan and persistence, have since been studied.
- Clear goals. Specific, challenging goals lead to better performance than vague goals. [3]
- Simple if-then plans. Deciding in advance exactly when and where you will act makes people much more likely to follow through. [4]
- Grit. Passion and perseverance for long-term goals predicted achievement beyond talent alone. [5]
Frequently asked questions
Who was Napoleon Hill?
An American author, born in Virginia in 1883, best known for Think and Grow Rich.
When was Think and Grow Rich published?
In 1937.
What is a definite major purpose?
His term for knowing exactly what you want and committing to it.
What is a Master Mind group?
A small group of people who meet in a spirit of harmony to support each other’s goals.
What is autosuggestion?
Repeating your written goal aloud each day so it stays at the front of your mind.
What is PMA?
Positive Mental Attitude, the outlook he taught with W. Clement Stone.
Where should I start?
Read the chapter on desire in Think and Grow Rich, then write and read your own goal statement daily.
Sources
- Napoleon Hill Foundation: About Napoleon Hill
- Napoleon Hill Foundation
- Locke and Latham, Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation, American Psychologist 2002
- Gollwitzer, Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans, American Psychologist 1999
- Duckworth et al., Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2007
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