How Do You Define “Success”? An Exclusive Excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s Think Your Way to Wealth by Napoleon Hill

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The following is an exclusive excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s Think Your Way to Wealth, an official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.  

HILL: How would you define “success”? 

 CARNEGIE: My definition of success is this: the power with which to acquire whatever one demands of life without violating the rights of others. 

HILL: But Mr. Carnegie, is it not true that success is often the result of “luck”? 

CARNEGIE: If you would analyze the definition of success that I just provided, you would see that there is no element of “luck” in it. Individuals might come by opportunities by mere chance or luck, but when opportunities are encountered this way, people have a way of falling out of them just as easily as they fell into them. In order to hold on to an opportunity, there must be Definiteness of Purpose! 

HILL: Mr. Carnegie, in your definition of success, you used the word “power.” You said that success is achieved through “the power with which to acquire whatever one wants.” Can you further explain what this power consists of? 

CARNEGIE: Personal power is acquired through a combination of individual traits and habits, some of which will be explained as we explore the other sixteen principles of achievement. Briefly, let me share the ten qualities of personal power: 

1. The habit of Definiteness of Purpose 

2. The ability to make prompt decisions 

3. Soundness of character (intentional honesty) 

4. Strict discipline over one’s emotions 

5. Extreme desire—to the point of obsession—to render useful service 

6. Thorough knowledge of one’s occupation 

7. Tolerance on all subjects 

8. Loyalty to one’s personal associates and faith in a Supreme Being 

9. Enduring thirst for knowledge 

10. Alertness of imagination 

Anyone may develop these traits—traits that lead to the development of a form of personal power that can be used without “violating the rights of others.” That is the only form of personal power that an individual can afford to wield.  

This is an exclusive excerpt from Napoleon Hill’s Think Your Way to Wealth, available now from Sound Wisdom and the Napoleon Hill Foundation. Originally published in 1948, Think Your Way to Wealth presents all seventeen principles of success as they were first described to him by Carnegie and other high-achieving individuals. Discover a master plan for success based on the original interviews with steel magnate Andrew Carnegie that inspired Napoleon Hill’s bestselling books Think and Grow Rich and The Law of Success.

Intentional Living through Increased Productivity: An Interview with Author John Martin by Jennifer Janechek

On the heels of his very popular first book, Empower Yourself: 7 Steps to Personal Success, John Martin has released a new title that is sure to accelerate your timeline to personal and professional success. Increase Your Personal Productivity: Your Guide to Intentional Living & Doing More of What You Enjoy is a wonderfully helpful guide to implementing a personalized goal system—one that is actually sustainable and repeatable. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines watching others live lives that you deem impossible for yourself, or if you just need some support in your current success journey, Increase Your Personal Productivity will provide you with the tools you need to define and achieve success on your own terms. I recently had the opportunity to chat with John about his latest book, and I learned a lot about his refreshing take on productivity.  

How do you define or measure productivity? 

It’s a very personal, individualized measurement. For me personally, I measure it by whether I hit my goals on a monthly, or even daily, basis. When I’m hitting my goals consistently on a daily basis, then I feel like I’m being productive.  

Some people swear by creating a daily agenda the night before, and others start each morning by writing their to-do list. What is your approach to creating a plan for the day? 

I keep a running to-do list for daily goals that I review each morning. I prefer to write it out on paper—things like a word count goal for writing, notes about work deadlines. I like to focus on major tasks that need to be accomplished that day.  

What are your thoughts on time-tracking software? Do you use it? 

No, I don’t. For me, it’s just one more thing to do—updating lists or software. I prefer to maintain a handwritten list; it keeps things simple and allows me to focus my energy on other tasks. I’m not opposed to the idea, though. I could see where it would be useful for people.  

What would you say is the biggest obstacle to productivity? 

Self-judgment. Mentally beating yourself up for not getting as much done as you intended or as you got done the day before. Focusing on shortcomings or allowing interruptions to dominate your attention causes you not to be present in the moment. The result is that you fail to move forward because you’re overthinking—thinking about the past instead of acting in the present. 

What is your best tip for increasing productivity?  

If I had to pick one, it would be to stop second-guessing yourself—to stop overthinking what you’re doing. A lot of it comes down to finishing a project, e.g., if you’re making a movie, don’t keep editing it. There’s a point that you just have to release the product to the world or else you’ll overedit it. Or there’s the failure-to-launch phenomenon—not being able to actually start on a project because you’re constantly planning it, never acting on it. These are major barriers to productivity. 

Why do you think people have such a hard time starting tasks? 

Well, it’s probably pretty primitive. It’s hardwired into us not to want to do things that are outside our comfort zone, and it’s difficult to switch gears mentally. Change is difficult; creating the momentum to go against our preference for stasis is difficult. That’s why it’s easier to sit on the couch instead of going for a run. Often it’s just a small mental shift that’s required to overcome our resistance to doing something difficult, and once we shift our mindset we can create positive momentum where doing the things we need to do for our health, success, and happiness becomes second nature. 

Speaking of working out, I’m always interested on people’s take on whether it’s best to work or workout first thing in the morning. Some people insist that the first 90 minutes of your day should be spent on your most creative, intensive tasks, while others note the benefits of starting your day with exercise. What are your thoughts on this? 

I think either is beneficial. Again, it comes down to knowing yourself. Productivity is such a personal metric, and improving it is about knowing what makes you the most productive and what you need to accomplish your goals. 

Going back to the question about difficulty starting tasks, what is your advice to people who struggle with this?  

Let go of your fear about your performance. Many people who have home-based businesses limit themselves because they’re afraid to take the first step and end up looking like a rookie. This creates a huge mental block that restricts their success. 

Also, have patience with yourself about procrastination. People work at different paces. If you struggle with procrastination, accept that about yourself and figure out how to create new habits that foster momentum. I like the Mel Robbins technique of counting down from five and then doing whatever it is you were reluctant to do. Implement little tricks to shift your mindset and overcome anxiety about starting tasks, whether big or small. 

So it sounds like you’re reframing the conversation around procrastination a bit? Most people treat procrastination as inherently negative, but your message about acceptance seems to go against the grain. Can you talk to me more about this?  

Yes, I would say so—because the idea is to avoid negative self-talk. If we’re constantly scolding ourselves for our tendency to procrastinate or are hyperfocused on it, we’re not going to be present and accomplishing the goals we’ve set for ourselves. We’re going to be living in the past rather than acting in the present. Now if you’re missing deadlines because of procrastination, that’s a different story. But if you’re simply delaying tasks as part of your work process, accept that about yourself and figure out how to shift your mentality to create more space for personal and professional success.  

Do you have any tips for managers for increasing their employees’ productivity? 

Encouragement over criticism. Model the behavior you expect. I think of the quote “The gang keeps pace with the leader.” If you’re productive, your people are more likely to be productive. 

What are you hoping is the major takeaway from your book? 

I’m hoping that readers learn organizational, time management, and mindset tips that help them set and achieve goals while staying true to the flow of their personality. Whether you’re wanting to start a home-based business or a side hustle, or whether you’re hoping to get more out of your current career, this book will help you learn more about what works for you and develop action plans that complement, rather than resist, your personality. 

“Lead the Field Literally Changed My Viewpoint on Life”: An Interview with Dr. Sarbari Gupta, CEO of Electrosoft by Jennifer Janechek

A month or so ago, I came across an article in the WashingtonExec about Dr. Sarbari Gupta, CEO of the technology company Electrosoft. In it, she says that Earl Nightingale’s Lead the Field audio program “literally changed [her] viewpoint on life when [she] first heard it in 1995 and motivated [her] to take bolder steps toward [her] goals in life.” Sound Wisdom recently published a beautiful print edition of Lead the Field, so I reached out to Dr. Gupta to learn more about how Nightingale’s work shaped her life and career. She was kind enough to chat with me over the phone, sharing many of her own success strategies as well as those that she gleaned from Nightingale’s audio program.  

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the field you’re in. 

I grew up in India and came to the United States to do graduate studies in electrical engineering. In graduate school, I took various courses in what was then called “information assurance/computer security” (now cybersecurity), and several of my master’s courses focused on cybersecurity-related topics. My first job after grad school was at Trusted Information Systems. During this time, I received a postcard advertising an audiotape of this program, Lead the Field. The marketing must have been intriguing enough that I signed up for it and ended up receiving a packet of maybe six audiotapes.  

Nightingale’s delivery really motivated me and started me thinking about concepts like attitude. I started talking to contacts and discovered an opportunity to move to IBM to do some groundbreaking work in the cybersecurity arena. To some extent this tape prompted me to keep my eyes and ears open. Sure enough, opportunities came up for me to grab, including this move to IBM. But I always had this desire to be my own boss, and in many ways Nightingale’s principles helped me chart my course toward founding Electrosoft.  

Lead the Field has often been referred to as the “Program of Presidents” because so many top executives have incorporated Earl Nightingale’s insight and guidance into their management philosophies. How did Lead the Field shape your management philosophy or your work philosophy in general? 

In the first chapter, “The Magic Word,” the lesson about attitude changed how I interacted with my family and colleagues. I have continuously applied the principle of integrity, the seed for achievement, in my life. It has had a strong influence on my management philosophy, especially the idea of the person on the white horse—that whoever is the leader is setting the example; there’s no hiding. On a personal level, I’ve found “The Miracle of Your Mind” chapter very beneficial—getting out an empty sheet of paper in the morning, focusing on the most important question, and coming up with answers. It’s true, as Nightingale suggests, that when you key in on a question at the beginning of the day, your subconscious will often be at work, trying to find an answer to it. And those answers will come to you, often at odd times of the day! 

What qualities do you think are most necessary for success in business, especially as an entrepreneur and/or manager?  

More than anything else, resilience. You need to be able to bounce back after things like opportunities falling through. Integrity is another word I take very seriously. People need to see integrity to trust you. Also, goal setting—people who succeed have goals. Like Nightingale points out in one of his anecdotes, being a bricklayer might be a tedious job, but if you can envision the whole thing, then you’ll have the drive to build it. 

Do you have any advice to budding entrepreneurs about what sorts of things they should be doing to position themselves well to succeed? 

Networking is No. 1. Careers are made or broken by who you know and who respects you. Whenever you can, get to know people in your field, establish a relationship with them, and build on that. Take your work seriously. Do a good job in everything that you undertake. The impression you’re making today matters. You could encounter the same people in the future. If you give a positive impression that earns their respect—you put your heart into it, do a good job, etc.—you could meet them twenty years later and they might remember that they were impressed with you. It can make it easier to establish a business relationship later on. Demonstrate a good work ethic. Don’t ever think that senior people aren’t keeping an eye on you. Keep making a good impression, attend to matters of professionalism—dress, attitude, whatever it is. It just helps in the long run.  

In terms of readying yourself to be an entrepreneur, try to get different types of experiences. Seek jobs with exposure to the sales side of things, or the financial aspects of a business. Do this in a low-risk environment where you’re still an employee, learning on the job; then you’ll feel more confident that you can set things up for yourself down the road.

About Sarbari Gupta

Dr. Sarbari Gupta has been active in the information security industry for over twenty years. She possesses broad-based knowledge and experience in the areas of cybersecurity, privacy, and cryptographic solutions. Dr. Gupta, who holds a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering and CISSP and CISA certifications, has authored over twenty technical papers/presentations in refereed conferences/journals and several chapters in cybersecurity books. In addition, she has co-authored several NIST Special Publications in the areas of Electronic Authentication, Security Configuration Management, and Mobile Credentials and holds four patents in areas of cryptography. Dr. Gupta is the founder, CEO, and president of Electrosoft, a provider of technology-based services and solutions with a special focus on cybersecurity.

About Electrosoft Services Inc.

Electrosoft, headquartered in Reston, Virginia, delivers a diversified set of technology-based solutions and services to federal, civilian, and defense agencies. They couple domain knowledge and experience with proven, mature management practices to design and deliver the right solutions on time and within budget. Their practices include an ISO 9001:2015 registered Quality Management System and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3 assessed processes. Founded in 2001, Electrosoft is an 8(a) certified Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and an 8(m) certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). For more information about Electrosoft, visit their website at www.electrosoft-inc.com.

Get your copy of Lead the Field now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, 800-CEO-READ, and other fine retailers. Also available in the Earl Nightingale Series is The Direct Line, and The Direct Line Workbook is forthcoming in December.

Interview with Jenny Galluzzo, Co-Founder of The Second Shift by Jennifer Janechek

Before I had kids, I never could have imagined how difficult it would be to try to build a career while parenting small children. As a very career-driven person, I also never anticipated the profound desire I would have to stay home with my children when they were young. This desire has often created a real tension for me, where I’ve felt a nagging pull between work and home. Luckily, I was able to find a work situation that enables me to join my two passions: parenting and working. Indeed, there are many opportunities in today’s work world for women to find part-time, remote, and/or project-based work—opportunities that help women develop their careers when they previously might have had to leave or hit pause on them.

Enter The Second Shift, a job agency co-founded by Jenny Galluzzo and Gina Hadley. The Second Shift helps women find non-traditional or temporary work situations so that they are able to have more freedom to parent, care for a sick child or parent, travel frequently, or do whatever they need to do. It is not a re-engagement platform, or one that helps women move back into the workforce after taking time off from their careers. The job opportunities that it features are top notch because they cater to women who are experts in their respective field. So, note that to use this platform, you’re expected to have a minimum of 10 years of experience in your area, which may exclude younger moms who are just starting out on their career paths. Nonetheless, this service ensures that women who have worked very hard to attain an executive position do not need to step down from it in order to have the work-life situation that they need or want.  

Recently, I talked with co-founder Jenny Galluzzo about how The Second Shift came into being, the challenges and joys of being a working mom, and the important mission her company has of encouraging gender equity and increasing support for moms in the workforce. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Jenny Galluzzo, and I co-founded The Second Shift with Gina Hadley. The Second Shift is something that we needed for ourselves, but it didn’t exist at the time. I was a journalist for a really long time, and Gina was a marketer. We both needed to find a different way to work for different reasons. Her husband kept relocating, and every time she moved she needed to start over again at work. I was a journalist looking to leave the field. In 2014 we built a platform to solve for all these things—to help women identify the skills they have and find a work situation that was a better fit for them—and early on we saw the possibilities. In the first year, we tried to do it on our own—to find companies to work with women, but we didn’t know what kind of women and what kind of jobs we were really looking for. We refocused the search process to move beyond boundaries of job titles and to help women identify what skills they had that would be appealing to various businesses. This is important to us because we believe it is crucial to keep women going throughout different points in their lives. Currently, less than 5 percent of CEOs are women. We have a very high-talent member profile and a four-step vetting process. We encourage businesses to make changes to support these incredibly talented women and to benefit their organizational climate as well. We believe that companies that support these sort of project-based, part-time, or otherwise flexible work situations will thrive just as much as their employees. 

What types of jobs will someone find on The Second Shift? Are there certain types of fields that are better represented than others? 

The majority of jobs fall into three categories: HR, CFO, and market research. They are often maternity fills, or big projects with a start and end date (long-term and contract based), or quick turnaround projects, or ongoing part-time routine jobs (e.g., PR, interim COO, etc., where there’s a set amount of hours). We have moved into full-time roles, as well. We curate jobs: we take only really high-level jobs that we think we can fill. Our goal is to follow the life cycle of our members through their career journey. At least half of the jobs are remote. We are always pooling different markets and looking for new members.  

There’s been a lot of talk lately about “work-life integration” instead of “work-life balance.” What are your thoughts on this? 

I think that it’s trying to find a solution to an ultimately unsolvable balance. There’s really not a way to run everything perfectly smoothly. You just need to be more patient and more realistic and realize that every day is going to be a different setup and every year your children’s needs will change.  

What is the best piece of advice you’ve heard or would give to a new mom trying to juggle work and parenting? 

Think about the long game and just keep swimming. Figure out a way to keep going, and don’t give up because it will get easier. Sometimes parents make hard decisions based on short-term circumstances, but it’s important to see things through. There are resources that are available to help you. Even if you leave the workforce, keep networking. Keep up with every colleague you’ve ever known. Keep everything going, even if it’s just the smallest amount, because it will help you in the future. 

Do you believe that women can “have it all”? 

Yes. I don’t believe you can have it all all the time. You won’t be able to do everything perfectly all day every day. Some days you will be a perfect worker, some days you will be a perfect mother, and some days you will be neither. But go into each day with the expectation of trying, and if nothing else, you tried. Lead by example for your kids, colleagues, and partner—show that you are human and fallible but that both your work and your family are a priority. 

Jennifer Janechek is the director of content strategy for Sound Wisdom. In her spare time, she writes for her website, The Work-at-Home Mom Blog. She loves that she gets to join her two passions—reading and writing about great books and empowering working women—in both these pursuits.