Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Are you reading this book yet?  "Think and Grow Rich" is just the first of many more books I plan to review with the Scouts.  I figure if we can get these principles and thoughts to the kids sooner, then maybe they'll be in a more creative, open mind set to receive and use the messages.  It's harder for adults, I think, because we already have more stresses and experiences that have hardened us to thinking that we DESERVE the success.

In the section on "Desire" Napoleon Hill discusses the difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it.  "No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can acquire it.  The state of mind must be belief, not mere hope or wish.  Open-mindedness is essential for belief.  Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage or belief."

Many times I've set goals for myself and failed.  It doesn't feel good.  But many of those times I actually set myself up for failure.  I didn't really BELIEVE I would reach the goal.  Why?  Because they were outrageous goals, that's why.  For a goal to be true, to be believable, it has to be reachable.  Doable for you.  Think large, think big, but not outrageous.  It has to be believable for YOU.

Review your goals now: are they believable?  Are they real?  If not, let's bag them or modify them.

See you at the top!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Studio
San Diego, CA 92128

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Here is the moment of truth, Scouts...now you have to actually do some work. 

"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill reveals a method by which DESIRE FOR RICHES can be transformed into financial equivalent.  There are six steps, to which I have also posted my answers to better guide you along your path.  Do this!!!  It really is fun.

1. "Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire." My answer: $10,000.00
2. "Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire."  My answer: In return for $10,000 I will give up weekends, evenings, and days off to introduce more potential students to the We Love Kempo Martial Arts studio.
3. "Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire."  My answer: I will have $10,000 by May 1st.
4. "Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action."  My answer: DONE!!!  That's why I'm writing this BSA Blog!!!  I have been way more active on the We Love Kemp forum, and plan on posting more frequently to the BSA Blog.  Also, we have classes scheduled in such a way that free classes for students are ending each week over the next month, so I feel like we have the real probability to enroll 5 students this week, and 2-3 each week for the next one to two months.  Yes! 
5. "Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire.  Name the time limit for its acquisition.  State what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it."  My answer:  I will have $10,000 by May 1st.  In return for this financial success I will give up weekends, weeknights, and days off so that I can share the martial arts with MORE potential students.  I will flier more aggressively, create a stronger internet presence for our studio, and enroll more students this month than this entire year!
6. "Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after rising in the morning.  As you read, see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money."  My answer:  Try posting it on the mirror of your bathroom!  You'll probably see it more than twice in a day!

Let's do it Scouts!  Let me know what YOU plan to do for your success!  Remember: there's always a price...but it's worth it.  Getting to Eagle Scout isn't easy either...

See you at the top!

Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout Ninja
We Love Kempo Martial Arts Studio
San Diego, CA 92128

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

We've talked about a "burning desire" in past blogs.  This is the first step to riches according to Napoleon Hill in "Think and Grow Rich."

One time I was at a motivational seminar and a presenter dunked a guys head in a bucket of water...and wouldn't let him come up for air...not until the guy REALLY struggled, and pushed up hard to get his head out of the water...to get air.  Then the speaker said, "When you want success as much as you want air to breath, that's when you'll be successful."

Might sound kind of corny, but I totally got it.  That's why I still remember it.  Here's another analogy of how BURNING your desire should be...not a wish, but a desire:

"A long while ago, a great warrior had to make a decision which ensured his success on the battlefield.  He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own.  He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy's country, unloaded his soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them.  Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, 'You see the boats going up in smoke.  That means that we cannot leave these shores unless we win!  We now have no choice--we win or we perish!' They won.  Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat.  Only by so doing can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win, essential to success."

What is you burning desire?

See you at the top!

-Sensei Brian Colwell
Martial Arts Superhero &
3rd Generation Eagle Scout
13240 Evening Creek Drive #314
San Diego, CA 92128
www.welovekempo.com

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

I first heard of the principles in "Think and Grow Rich" at a meeting where we watched "The Secret."

"Thoughts become things."

"...there is a universal power which adapts itself to the nature of the thoughts we hold in our minds; and influences us, in natural ways, to transmute our thoughts into their physical equivalent."

Our thoughts are magnets.

What's filling your mind every day?  If it's stress from school, work, or home that you're thinking about, is it helping?  Probably not.  Let's find a way to ground ourselves against stress.  Let's work on our thoughts being on abundance instead.  On riches, or good grades, or happiness.  Let's do this every day from now on...forever!

Every year we should reexamine "Think and Grow Rich" so we're accountable to our thoughts, staying always on thoughts of riches and abundance.

In what ways are you already rich?  (Attitude of Gratitude)

See you at the dojo!  Tournament is right around the corner!

-Sensei Brian Colwell

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

The primary theme in "Think and Grow Rich" is "The Power of Thought."  How to acquire a state of mind that will attract riches.  It doesn't need to be hard to get rich, but it takes belief.  Success comes to those who BECOME success conscious. 

We are encouraged to receive this suggestion: "When riches begin to come, they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding all those lean years."

If you never read the book, never read any more blogs I post about this book, then please at least receive the above.  Like I wrote earlier, I read the book one year ago.  I thought last year as I pursued the principles in the book that I was failing, since I wasn't making all the money I should have......you know what?  I DID make lots of money last year.  I made it for the the dojo I was working for...I just didn't get to keep it.  It went upstairs, into the hands of big corporate types.

I'm energized as I read this book again.  I'm ready to make lots more money!  I did it before, and I'm DOING it again!

Should it be any easier for adults than kids to make lots of money?  Scouts...read this book!  Let's see what you can do, what you can visualize and make come true. 

Maybe you get a huge scholarship, a sponsorship, or create some new cell phone app...it's your future!

See you on the trail!

Sensei Brian

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

To continue our discussion of "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill:

There are several sections in this book I found I could connect with.  Also in the beginning of the book:

"...greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.  Failure is a trickster with a keen sense of irony and cunning.  It takes great delight in tripping one up when success is almost withing reach."

Have you ever tried to open up a jar, and you pushed and pulled until your hands hurt, but couldn't get it open?  Then you passed it to someone else and they barely do anything, opening it with no effort?  Same story.

That can be looked at as a negative...like you failed...but what if you "ask for help before it's too late?"  This is team work, the buddy system.  That's way more positive.  People tend to NOT ask for help, preferring to quit or fail instead.  The older I get the more I ask for help...I can't do everything...I'm not good at everything.  You have to be humble to ask for help.  You have to share your problems with people in order for them to help.  That takes letting them into your life, which can also be hard sometimes.  It opens you up to getting hurt by people around you.  But there are people around you who WANT to help.  Let them help you. 

Together we are greater than the sum of our parts.  Together we can make a difference. 

See you at the top, or at the bottom, or somewhere in the middle...just ask!

-Sensei Brian

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Exactly one year ago I read the book "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill.  I just picked it up again and started looking over the copeous notes I took while reading.  This book truly inspired me and taught me some valuable lessons as well.  Over the next few weeks I'll be discussing excerpts from this famous book.

The first section of this book talks about the power of thought.
 
-"when a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win."

What is YOUR single, all consuming obsession...your "definite major purpose?"  Your persistance with a SINGLE desire will "mow down all opposition" and bring you to what you're seeking.

When I think about this statement it REALLY is true...there are few things I've desired with a burning passion, truly desired in my heart and soul.  A few items on that list include: reaching Eagle Scout, receiving the Vigil Honor in Order of the Arrow, getting straight A's my Junior year of high school (with all honors classes) just to prove that I could, reaching Black Belt in 2 years or less, and growing my first dojo to 100 students in 1 year or less.

Everything I've focused on like a laser beam I've been able to reach.  So I ask you again: What is YOUR single, all consuming obsession?  If you don't care enough about your goal, you won't reach it.

How much do you care about reaching Eagle Scout?

See you at the top!

-Sensei Brian