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Think and Grow Rich test: Do you think more about success or failure?

September 29, 2009 by JD
Filed under: Books, Self-Improvement, Success and Failure

My answers to the Think and Grow Rich Self-Assessment Test

Recently, I was reminded of the self-assessment test in Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich.

There are fifty-four questions in that test, and I’m going to be giving my answers and thoughts on one or two of them as close to daily as I can manage. I may miss a day here or there, but I’m going to follow through until I reach the end of the test.

I’ve started the series of posts with:

Think and Grow Rich self-assessment test

Question Number 9. Do you devote more time to thinking about success or failure?

As with some of the previous questions I’ve answered in this series, my normal thoughts are different from what I’ve been doing lately. That’s one of the reasons I’m going through these questions and posting them online, instead of writing them in a notebook as I normally do.

For the last year, much of the time, I’ve been in a failure-focused mindset. It’s not something I have a lot of experience with and it’s made some tough times even tougher.

Normally, I have a “can do!” attitude and I’m focused on finding successful solutions to problems and to successfully achieving the goals I adopt for myself.

I’ve done many things over the years that others said would be impossible, and usually it wasn’t all that difficult. Yes, it took work, but more importantly, it took preparation and a plan.

When I set an important goal, I like to tell those around me. It releases it from my private little domain and shares it with the universe.

Some will look forward to my success and others to my failure. I’ve had experience with both.

When I decide that I want to do something, that’s one thing.

When I decide that I intend to do something, that’s a horse of a different color!

By setting an intention, I’ve focused on a goal and the next step is to come up with an analysis of what it will take to get from where I am to where I want to be when the goal is accomplished.

I try to identify the obstacles in my way, new things I’ll need to learn, ways in which I will have to change, other people who can provide advice and support, and all the other factors involved in seeing the overall view of what I intend to do.

Then, it’s a matter of identifying milestones and devising a plan to get to each of them.

This is a lot simpler than planning to build a skyscraper, for example, but I can still use some of the same techniques and tools, although my plans will be much less complex.

While I’m devising these plans and working to reach each milestone, I’m focused on successfully achieving the goal I set for myself.

There are times when I have to think about failure, because not all goals can be achieved. Sometimes we do fail, despite our best efforts. Sometimes we come to a place where we have to question whether the goal is still worth pursuing and/or whether we have the necessary skills and resources to bring it to fruition.

Failure is not all bad, however.

When we realize that there are some things we are not going to do, no matter how seriously we previously intended to accomplish them, it can be a very freeing experience to simply acknowledge that we failed and that we no longer intend to reach that goal.

That frees us up to reevaluate where we are and where we want to go.

Opportunities for success are all around us. We just have to pick the ones we really want and find a way to get them.

Some are easy, others are very difficult.

If we focus on failure, that makes even the easy tasks much more difficult.

If we focus on success, sometimes we find easy ways to accomplish things that initially appeared to be difficult.

Our mindset and how we approach a project have a lot to do with whether we will succeed or fail.

I prefer to focus on success.

What about you?

Do you devote more time to thinking about success or failure?

Act on your dream!

Tags: Napoleon Hill, self-assessment, test, Think and Grow Rich

Comments

5 Comments on Think and Grow Rich test: Do you think more about success or failure?

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 7:34 am

I view it very simply – failure is just NOT an option.

So when things don’t go the way I expect…I try to see what I can take from them and contribute towards the future.
.-= Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach´s last blog ..Today’s Humor of the Day – Animator VS Animation 2 =-.

Mitch on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 9:12 am

Though I agree with Barbara, I have to admit that I always try to work through what might go wrong as much as what might go right, and I base whatever I do on whether the failure will be much less than the potential success. I think that’s just prudent.

Oddly enough, John, these last couple of days I’ve been thinking more about failure as I’m here at my mother’s house, with her suddenly not doing well and my also having to worry about my grandmother, and at times not knowing what to do. Not quite what you went through, but you know, it comes at us and we’re just not prepared, right?
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..An Interview With Jim Turner =-.

JD on Fri, 2nd Oct 2009 5:38 am

Good morning, Barbara and Mitch.

Barbara, I like your attitude, but there are times when failure, although not an option, happens.

As a computer geek, I’m sure you’ll appreciate the t-shirt I used to wear that said something like, “Failure is not an option – it is a standard part of the (fill in the blank) operating system.”

(grin)

I do everything I can to make something work once I intend to do it, but it doesn’t always work out.

Still, assuming success and always working in that direction is the best way to accomplish anything.

Hi Mitch,

When planning how to achieve a goal, I think planning for what may go wrong is just as important, and maybe more so, than planning for what will go right.

By anticipating the obstacles and finding ways to overcome them, ahead of time, I think we’re still focusing on success. As you said, it’s prudent.

I can certainly relate to what you’re going through with your mother and grandmother. I don’t think we’re ever prepared, fully, to deal with issues related to the health of the people we love.

I’m hoping that everything works out for the best for all of you.

Act on your dream!

Mitch on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 10:23 pm

Yes, it seems things did work out; thanks!
.-= Mitch´s last blog ..Archie Got Married! Or Did He? =-.

JD on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 10:48 pm

Good evening, Mitch.

That’s good news!

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