Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill was a writer and businessman who inspired countless other successful businessman, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and future billionaires. Napoleon Hill was born on October 26, 1883, in Southwest Virginia. His whole life was full of set back and then comebacks right from his childhood till the time of his death. He grew up in poverty, but his writing career opened doors for him to meet one of the wealthiest and influential people of those times. This influenced him to write one of the best-selling books in the self-help book history, Think and Grow Rich. He also wrote 10 other books, some of the prominent ones are How to sell your way through life,
At times Napoleon Hill was considered a controversial figure, as the thinkers of that time often questioned the accuracy of many of his lessons. Still, his books remain a significant source of inspiration for past and present billionaires.

During his lifetime Hill experienced extreme poverty, and finest the wealth has to offer. He was faced with countless challenges and unbelievable opportunities. However, he kept pushing himself forward. He wanted to pass what he learned to more number of people. Napoleon Hill still inspires millions of people even after 50 years of his death.

Personal life:

Most of the credit for him to become a writer goes to his step-mother.  Napoleon Hill was born in a one-room cabin and lost his mother at the tender age of 9. His father remarried after two years to Martha, widow of a school principal. She had a profound influence on Napoleon; civilizing a so-called wild-child. She made him join the school and attend church.  Martha also inspired him to use his imagination to become a writer and gifted him a typewriter.

He married thrice and had three boys from his second marriage.

Turning Point:

Napoleon Hill met Andrew Carnegie for an interview for Bob Taylor’s magazine, Carnegie challenged him to work for 20 years without salary, to determine the principles of success and compile them in a book. In exchange for it, he will introduce Hill to one of the most influential and wealthiest men of those times. Carnegie kept his promise and hill interviewed Thomas Addison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, and John D Rockefeller. These meeting and interviews helped Hill to produce the world-famous book eventually, Think and Grow Rich.

Literary work:

Hill’s books remain one of the most influential books for modern day self-made millionaires. The list of entrepreneurs or self-made millionaires who will credit a part of their success to Think and Grow Rich. Hill’s other prominent literary work includes The Law of Success, The Master key to Riches, Grow Rich with Peace of Mind and Success Habits.

However, Think Rich and Grow Rich remains undoubtedly one his best piece of work. Over 100 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide. It’s ranked the 6th best-published business books of all times. As mentioned, there is a long list of celebrities and leaders in self-development industries who give credit to this book for inspiring them. The list includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Daymond John, Brian Tracy, Bob Proctor, Tony Robins, but the most famous name could be Oprah Winfrey. Oprah credits Think and Grow Rich to most of her success. She has read the book for more than 13 times in her life. Other celebrities who credit the book partially for their success are Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Michael Jordon, Barbara Cochran, and many more.