The Thirty Major Causes of Failure --- Napoleon Hill

THE THIRTY MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE --- HOW MANY OF THESE ARE HOLDING YOU BACK?

1.      UNFAVORABLE HEREDITARY BACKGROUND.

2.      LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED PURPOSE IN LIFE. There is no hope of success for the person who does not have a central purpose, or definite goal at which to aim. Ninety-eight out of every hundred of those whom I have analyzed, had no such aim. Perhaps this was the MAJOR CAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE.

3.      LACK OF AMBITION TO AIM ABOVE MEDIOCRITY.

4.      INSUFFICIENT EDUCATION.

5.      LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. Discipline comes through self-control. This means that one must control all negative qualities.

6.      ILL HEALTH.

7.      UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES DURING CHILDHOOD.

8.      LACK OF PERSISTENCE. Most of us are good "starters" but poor "finishers" of everything we begin. Moreover, people are prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There is no substitute for PERSISTENCE. The person, who makes PERSISTENCE his watch-word, discovers that "Old Man Failure" finally becomes tired, and makes his departure. Failure cannot cope with PERSISTENCE.

9.      NEGATIVE PERSONALITY. There is no hope of success for the person who repels people through a negative personality. Success comes through the application of POWER, and power is attained through the cooperative efforts of other people. A negative personality will not induce cooperation.

10.  PROCRASTINATION. This is one of the most common causes of failure. "Old Man Procrastination" stands within the shadow of every human being, waiting his opportunity to spoil one's chances of success. Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the "time to be right" to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

11.  LACK OF CONTROLLED SEXUAL URGE. Sex energy is the most powerful of all the stimuli which move people into ACTION. Because it is the most powerful of the emotions, it must be controlled, through transmutation, and converted into other channels.

12.  UNCONTROLLED DESIRE FOR "SOMETHING FOR NOTHING."

13.  LACK OF A WELL DEFINED POWER OF DECISION. Men who succeed reach decisions promptly, and change them, if at all, very slowly. Men who fail, reach decisions, if at all, very slowly, and change them frequently, and quickly. Indecision and procrastination are twin brothers. Where one is found, the other may usually be found also. Kill off this pair before they completely "hog-tie" you to the treadmill of FAILURE.

14.  ONE OR MORE OF THE SIX BASIC FEARS.

15.  WRONG SELECTION OF A MATE IN MARRIAGE.

16.  OVER-CAUTION. The person, who takes no chances, generally has to take whatever is left when others are through choosing. Over-caution is as bad as under-caution. Both are extremes to be guarded against. Life itself is filled with the element of chance.

17.  WRONG SELECTION OF ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS.

18.  SUPERSTITION AND PREJUDICE. Superstition is a form of fear. It is also a sign of ignorance. Men who succeed keep open minds and are afraid of nothing.

19.  WRONG SELECTION OF A VOCATION.

20.  LACK OF CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT.

21.  THE HABIT OF INDISCRIMINATE SPENDING. The spend-thrift cannot succeed, mainly because he stands eternally in FEAR OF POVERTY. Form the habit of systematic saving by putting aside a definite percentage of your income. Money in the bank gives one a very safe foundation of COURAGE when bargaining for the sale of personal services. Without money, one must take what one is offered, and be glad to get it.

22.  LACK OF ENTHUSIASM. Without enthusiasm one cannot be convincing. Moreover, enthusiasm is contagious, and the person, who has it, under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.

23.  INTOLERANCE.

24.  INTEMPERANCE. The most damaging forms of intemperance are connected with eating, strong drink, and sexual activities. Overindulgence in any of these is fatal to success.

25.  INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other reasons combined. It is a fault which no well-informed business man, or leader will tolerate.

26.  POSSESSION OF POWER THAT WAS NOT ACQUIRED THROUGH SELF EFFORT.

27.  INTENTIONAL DISHONESTY.

28.  EGOTISM AND VANITY. These qualities serve as red lights which warn others to keep away. THEY ARE FATAL TO SUCCESS.

29.  GUESSING INSTEAD OF THINKING. Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire FACTS with which to THINK ACCURATELY. They prefer to act on "opinions" created by guesswork or snap-judgments.

30.  LACK OF CAPITAL. This is a common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time, without sufficient reserve of capital to absorb the shock of their mistakes, and to carry them over until they have established a REPUTATION.

 

 

HILL, NAPOLEON (2009-12-16). Think and Grow Rich (p. 113). White Dog Publishing. Kindle Edition.