Muhammad Ali and Napoleon Hill.
What does the first sentence of this article tell you?
For many, probably not much, and for some, you might even ask “who are they?”
Napoleon Hill has probably become the most widely read Personal Development author of all time. His seminal Think and Grow Rich is commonly regarded as the number one book in terms of being the most published book of its kind of all time. Many people have built their own successful business empires based on the teachings and “success secrets” contained within its pages.
While the language of the time [mid 1930’s]can be a bit difficult to interpret, those who take the time to study the book [not just read it]they begin to realize the power and truth of Hill’s writing.
Of course, Hill had successfully distilled the lessons he learned from more than 500 business leaders and entrepreneurs at the time. And those lessons have proven to be timeless.
We see these ‘modernized’ lessons in the Law of Attraction and the plethora of books, tapes, DVDs, movies, seminars that have largely spawned on the back of ‘The Secret’, which is actually a version of ‘Think and get rich’. .
Let’s leave Napoleon Hill and Think and Grow Rich for a moment and talk about Muhammad Ali.
When he was young, around the time Ali was becoming famous, he had never seen anyone ‘show off’ like him.
Here in New Zealand our sporting heroes were the All Blacks [Rugby Football]they were the best – and still are – but none of them announced their prowess [and future success]like Ali did.
His “I’m the best” and “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” took some getting used to. It became known as the Louisville lip, for obvious reasons.
However, what I didn’t know until I read an article about it. [he turns 70 years of age on January 17], was the fact that from a very young age Ali had a particularly strong work ethic. He would run to school instead of taking the bus. It wasn’t until his bike was stolen that he met a policeman who was also a boxing trainer. According to a friend, “he was developing punches back then” and that Ali aspired to become a heavyweight boxer.
In fact, a neighbor is quoted as saying that at a very young age, Ali told him he would be heavyweight champion of the world, and the neighbor didn’t believe him: “I told him, ‘Man, you better get that off your back. . your mind.’ But he succeeded. He fulfilled it.”
As we all know by now, Ali not only became a world champion, but arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
In the first chapter of Think and Grow Rich, Hill describes the first key to success: You must develop a “burning desire” for what you want. He shares a six-step plan to get there.
And here are some quotes from this chapter. [in the version of the book that I have]; that will help illustrate the similarity between what the Hill and Ali spouses achieve.
‘You become only as big as your dominant aspiration. If you hold a vision, a high ideal in your heart, you will not realize it. james allen
Our only limitations are the ones we set in our own mind. [Hill]
‘If you want to be happy, set a goal that controls your thoughts, releases your energy, and inspires your hopes.’ Andrew Carnegie.
And an insight from Hill: ‘Remember, it takes no more effort to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than it does to accept misery and poverty.’
So when comparing Ali’s achievements and his use of these principles, there is no doubt that he, Ali, had a burning desire to succeed. As his neighbor said: “He succeeded. He did it.”
your coach
phil