Napoleon Hill (1883-1970) was an accomplished business consultant, author and lecturer. For over twenty five years he studied some of the world’s greatest business leaders to discover what made them so successful. These were people like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt and many more! His discoveries were published in his landmark bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. The following are excerpts from Think and Grow Rich. They are timeless messages which apply more than ever to the unique challenges we’re facing in Western New York and the world right now.
On Leadership:
In times of distress, there is invariably a call for new leadership. We recently saw it on the national scene with the election of a new President of the United States. In turn, we will continue to see it in our neighborhoods and workplaces as we continue to face the challenges currently presented by our domestic and world economies. Here are Napoleon Hill’s Major Attributes of Leadership:
UNWAVERING COURAGE based upon knowledge of self and of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader for very long.
SELF-CONTROL. People who cannot control themselves can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate.
A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE. Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his or her followers.
DEFINITENESS IN DECISION. People who waver in decisions show that they are not sure of themselves. They cannot lead others successfully.
DEFINITENESS OF PLANS. The successful leader must plan the work, and work the plan. A leader who moves by guesswork without practical, definite plans is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later it will land on the rocks.
THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR. One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leaders, to do more than they require of their followers.
A PLEASING PERSONALITY. No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect leaders who do not score highly on all factors of a pleasing personality.
SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. Successful leaders must be in sympathy with their followers. Moreover, they must understand them and their problems.
MASTERY OF DETAIL. Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader’s position.
WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY. Successful leaders must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings of their followers. If they try to shift this responsibility, they will not remain leaders. If followers make mistakes and become incompetent, it is the leader who has failed.
COOPERATION. Successful leaders must understand and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce followers to do the same. Leadership calls for power, and power calls for cooperation.
On Self-Confidence:
“I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness and cynicism by developing love for all humanity because I know that a negative attitude towards others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself.”
On Poverty and Riches:
Poverty and riches often change places. Poverty may, and generally does, voluntarily take the place of riches. When riches take the place of poverty, the change is usually brought about through well-conceived and carefully executed plans. Poverty needs no plan. It needs no one to aid it, because it is bold and ruthless. Riches are shy and timid. They have to be “attracted.”
Anybody can wish for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan plus a burning desire for wealth are the only dependable means of accumulating it.
“Above all else, be daring, be bold, be unconventional.” - Kevin Rampe
What’s the best way to get out of a rut or simply spice up your personal or professional life? Make it a point to do something a little unconventional. Why? It takes you out of your comfort zone and opens you up to new possibilities.
There’s a lot of doom and gloom going around in the world right now. In fact, the evening news is becoming one of our psyche’s worst enemies. Admittedly, I barely even watch it anymore. I mostly just pay attention to the local happenings, some political updates, and specific articles relative to my business pursuits. I aim to be informed enough to stay well equipped for conversation, but sheltered enough to stay positive.
It’s easy to get caught up in the routines of the day to day so my recommendation is to try something unconventional. For me and my business partner, it was taking our efforts to a new state and trying out our first mini road show to drum up new business. Phone time with potential real estate investors is great, but we decided that face time is even better. So, we dropped our Rochester specific obligations and bought a couple tickets to Florida.
Just the act itself helped us discover new avenues in which we can improve our real estate business. We work with many out of town investors, so we thought to ourselves, “Why not head out of town and meet some?” So, we did and it’s been a very productive trip.
Furthermore, in the spirit of unconventional wisdom, the website Half.com used a unique approach to marketing. They got a small town in Oregon to rename itself “Half.com.” Before that point they pushed thousands upon thousands of dollars into advertising. With just this act, they got more press then they ever got before and for minimal cost; all because they did something a little unconventional.
What can you bring back to your life in Western New York? Despite all the culture, art, and music, there is plenty of opportunity to do something a little bit outside of the box. So, this week’s challenge is to do just that. Break out of the norm and start thinking with some unconventional wisdom.
If we all take a little time to think outside the box, than we can make a more dramatic impact on our community. We live in an ever-changing world which requires unconventional wisdom to make things better. As Mahatma Gandhi would say, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Let’s start trying a few new things in our lives here in Western New York and start shaking up the routine!
Ben and I got to know Michael through our work at the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce while we were in college at SUNY Geneseo. We were spending time on an initiative to build an international sister region relationship between Livingston County, the Greater Rochester Area and the Eastern Region in Ghana. Michael has been the main bureaucrat representing the City of Rochester during the effort which continues to this day. He has been an instrumental resource in terms of international community development from a political perspective.
Michael’s passion for building an international community is unprecedented. Primarily working as an Engineer for the city, most of his volunteer hours are dedicated to improving and unifying the 11 sister city relationships currently held by the City of Rochester. Meanwhile, in his free time, he plays in an Irish band as well as many other musical groups and dances in a variety of cultural dance troops. It is an honor and a pleasure to feature some of his insights! ~Joseph & the Bigger Impact Team
How did you get your start? Where did you grow up?
I grew up on a farm in Michigan and my aspiration was to be a science and math teacher. When I was getting out of college there were no teaching jobs. It was in the very early 1970s and things were financially tight. I wound up part time teaching and then landed a job as a bureaucrat for the city manager of Jackson, Michigan.
The guy that they brought to Michigan actually worked in Rochester to help resolve many social and racial issues. So, instead of teaching I was working in city administration; ran an airport, a youth program, and did computer programming.
Then, I went to Syracuse University to learn how to be a bureaucrat in eleven easy months at the Maxwell School. Wound up having an offer from Monroe County to work in their budget office as well as an offer from Greenville, South Carolina. It was roughly the same salary and I knew what the music was in South Carolina and in Rochester, so I naturally took the job in Rochester.
Found some musicians soon and ended up in an Irish band here as well as a Folk Dance Troop. Later came over to work with the city. With my connections to the folk dancing troops, I was asked to organize some international performances for the Lilac Festival. So, I did that over in Highland Park for a few years. That was in and around 1983, just one year before the City of Rochester was celebrating its 150 year anniversary. At that point I did my first work with the Sister Cities Program and helped bring in about 175 international people for Sister Cities’ week.
In 1991, I was invited onto the Board of Sister Cities. Since then, I’ve served on a variety of committees and have helped organize many international festivals. All of these things helped me realize and understand the importance of establishing international connections. All of these rich groups of people make up one rich community.
I grew up in a small white, Catholic town in Michigan where at the family dinner at our church you could count on about four different varieties of meatloaf. And the variety would be in whether they would put ketchup or strips of bacon on top.
So, when I came out here and realized there were about 100 types of bacon and hams and many other wonderful things, it was fantastic. I thought you would have to go to New York City or Chicago to find this type of cultural richness, but it is right here in Rochester.
Instead of becoming a city manager and roaming the country every three to five years, I stayed here with my Irish band and my dancing troops and have become deeply involved with the International Sister Cities Program.
We want to rebuild the strong community connection and know that we can develop the plans to be more ambitious. So, I’ve tried to develop our planning abilities and our ability to make contact with the big funders. I want to help build a unified strength in our Sister Cities program again.
What instruments do you play?
For the Irish music I play the banjo, guitar, and tin whistle. When we’re doing North American music I play harmonicas, harps, and other absurd noise makers. During Bulgarian music I’ll use string instruments like tom bras.
If you could meet any three people, who would they be?
Marcus Aurilius. When you read about his writings on stoicism and his time as a military leader in the Roman Empire and later as an emperor, it makes you wonder how he approached his life…its an immense curiosity to wonder how a man like that might think.
I would like to have met the Science Fiction author, Robert Heinlein. He was an Annapolis graduate and went into the Navy on active duty. Then he was discharged and it broke his heart. But, he was involved in military research as a civilian which kept him connected. Through that time he was writing a lot of the early science fiction. His stories focus on an individual; usually a young man who is in situations where honor, duty, humor, and decency to other human beings are a part of what’s going on. Some of his politics I disagree with greatly, but his strong values I admire. When I grew up it was his books in the library so they had a lot of influence on me.
One thing I always remember about him was his self-proclaimed standard of writing. He writes to a “beer standard,” he would say. “A young man has a weekend night coming up; he can go to the store and buy a six pack of beer or my novel. I have to write well enough so that he buys my novel and not that six-pack.” That observation stuck with me about how to measure accomplishments and success. He was being facetious with that but it is a practical application.
The problem is there are hundreds of others, but who would I like to meet in this moment; who would I like to listen to and hear their thoughts? I would like to sit and have a conversation with a historian, Stavrianos. He wrote a book World Since 1500: A Global History. He wasn’t focused on who was the king and what was this war, but rather the development of nations and cultures; people and how they influenced each other.
What advice would you give to Western New York?
Western New York is one of the key industrial heartlands of the United States, although the industries are changing. The rust belt industries are gone and a lot of the manufacturing we are doing now will be gone. It will not survive. We have to learn to change and to snatch the opportunities. We have to look beyond our immediate communities. We have to reach abroad to be connected with the world.
The Sister Cities Program is one thing that helps build those connections but it also helps provide education to the kids and to give them confidence that they can participate successfully in a global world. Western New York has been historically globally connected and it has to stay that way. It has to reach out and train children in other languages, cultures, religions, and philosophies. They must be taught not to succumb to the fears of challenges. Their teachings need to give them the faith and skills to help them become successful in the outside world.
So, my advice is to develop the skills, philosophies, and institutions to let us be connected internationally and survive.
What is one of your favorite quotes?
“No matter how high or lofty the throne, what sits on it is the same as your own.” – Terry Brooks
What is your favorite place to eat in Rochester?
I go to the Mount Hope Diner or the South Wedge Diner because the food is very good and inexpensive and there are some nice folks there. It’s plain, unpretentious, and comfortable.
What is your favorite place to go in the summer in Rochester?
Highland Park. It's a section of the city that really strikes me. I grew up on a farm so I can't stand the feel of the suburbs. Here in the city there is flavor and variety. I love that.
Michael Leach can be reached at Mike.Leach@cityofrochester.gov.
“But I shall let it remain a secret for ever, since it should not be written of: the most delightful and choicest pleasure is that which is hinted at, but never told.” - Chretien de Troyes
Valentine’s Day is a special day for lovers and a scary day for singles. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that millions of women are freaking out right now because Valentine’s Day is a very big deal to them. Even for men, it’s an easy day to feel loved or lonely.
This life we live is about feelings, emotions, and experiences and words don’t always do them justice. But, I’m going to try for you today because I think there are some important things we can take from the legendary experience of a Valentine’s Day lived well.
My thoughts today stem from the fact that everybody deserves and desires to feel appreciated. We all want to be loved and feel loved. It’s human nature to want that. The beauty of this fact is that recognition, a form of appreciation, is a harmless strain of vanity. It’s a gift we can freely give to lift people up and raise them to new heights.
There are three keys to making someone really feel special this Valentine’s Day; be creative, be mysterious, and be authentic.
Be creative. Do something different. Break the routine. Play a song that reminds you of them on their voice mail. Make a card instead of buying one. Don’t go out for a romantic dinner at some fancy restaurant; instead try creating your own atmosphere in your own place with music and food you both like. Make a short, funny movie together which expresses your appreciation for a mutual friend. The possibilities are endless, so be original with your creation!
Be mysterious. What is it about the “secret admirer” situation that drives us completely mad? The beauty is in the mystery. Who could it be? What is it about you that inspired their sudden attention? Try flattering someone with a random act of kindness. Anonymously send them a note with an honest compliment. Then a few days later, if you want to, let them in on the secret of who sent it. Instill a hint of mystery in your interactions of appreciation with the people in your life.
Be authentic. Whatever you say or do this week to make someone feel special, make sure it comes from a place of honesty. Hollow words are the easiest to see through. Be genuine with your actions and words as that will enable you to make the greatest impact. And, that’s what the spirit of this day is all about, making an impact on someone you value having in your life.
But, why do we have to wait until Valentine’s Day to let the people in our life know we appreciate them? We don’t and that’s our challenge to you now that you’re armed with some knowledge about how to make a deep impact on the people around you. Spread it around all year. Even if it is just a genuine smile and a silent blessing of good will, make it a goal to brighten one person’s day, everyday.
The secret of living is giving. Imagine what our community in Western New York would be like if everyone took just a few minutes everyday to make someone feel appreciated. That’s a place I’d be proud to call home.
Having grown up in such a well known, successful family, what is it that motivated you to live the entrepreneurial life you lead now?
One of the things I remember my mother saying to me growing up was; “You’ve got to go out and make it yourself. You can’t depend on falling back on the family.” That really stuck with me and as a result, I’ve always been super ambitious. Part of it I’m sure is my genes, but much of the family lineage has had that passion. There have been many entrepreneurs in the ranks on both my father and my mother’s side.
What advice would you give to the people of Western New York?
There’s a lot of opportunity here. We have access to some tremendous colleges and universities right in our backyard. It’s a comfortable place to live with a high quality of life. And, for a person that wants to raise a family it’s a fantastic place to do that.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned in business thus far is experience is the most valuable tool out there. Always be open to learning new ideas and improving things you’re already doing. Educating yourself is essential. Surround yourself with the smartest people possible and really listen to them.
Why should someone live in Western New York?
It’s funny because my three siblings all live out of town now and my parents are snowbirds, so I’m the only one here braving the winters. But, I do have a huge family and a lot of good friends here. The truth is it’s a really nice community. People really care about the town and Rochester has a lot to offer. I love the quality of life I have here; with short commutes and some major cities only a short plane ride away.
What are some of your goals going forward?
Going forward, my business ambitions revolve around looking into new restaurant concepts and continuing the success of the current portfolio. Ultimately, the long term vision is to find a concept that we can grow outside of Rochester and hopefully go nationally. But, for right now, we’re slowing down and making sure the businesses we’re already in are operating as well as possible.
Michael can be reached at: Mike@CoppergrassBistro.com
People get sick. They go broke. They lose their jobs. They get divorced. They struggle with physical or emotional pains. They grow up in the "wrong part of town." They go hungry. They experience the death of a loved one.
As beautiful as life is, it challenges us. It stares us in the face and tests us to be better people.
Life isn't always graceful and fate often proves to be a fickle friend. But, it's not always the circumstance that matters the most, but rather the choices we make in response to the cards we're dealt. You must ask yourself, "Is it the beginning or is it the end?" Your answer defines your destiny.
Are you facing some challenges right now?
Here are some ideas that might help you get through them a little easier.
Talk to a close friend or family member about how you are feeling or what you are experiencing. Once you get a grip on what you're going through yourself, share it with others so you can get a new perspective on the matter. They may have already gone through the same problem in their own life and their insights could be invaluable to you.
Accept the situation for what it is, but don't be quick to accept defeat. Tim Robbins' character in the movie Shawshank Redemption said; "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And, no good thing ever dies." There's always a silver lining and victory is always for the persistent.
Know that failure is often just a stepping stone towards success. When we fail, we learn lessons winning could never teach us. Don't ever expect failure, but embrace it if it happens. Often, it is a blessing in disguise.
Pain is temporary, pride is forever. Your long term satisfaction will far outweigh the short term sacrifices you may be making (or forced to make).
Be true to yourself. Face your problems with integrity and you will never be ashamed to look at the face you see in the mirror. Taking care of that person is the most important part of facing any challenge.
Above all, believe in yourself. At the end of the day, you're a great person. You deserve to have a life of prosperity and happiness. Remember that you can create these pleasures with a simple change in your attitude.
Challenges present themselves in our lives on a daily basis, but it's the choices we make in response to them which create our realities. Life is all about perspective.
Daniel grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a family oriented environment. His move to Rochester came on the wings of starting fresh in a new place, knowing only a few people. This posed its own unique challenges for Dan, but he has since come to find Rochester his new home. Ben and I, like many other Rochesterians, have come to know Dan primarily through his work with the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. In his short tenure he has been able to increase advocacy for young professionals making their mark in the community by delivering a weekly column, On The Ladder, for nearly a year now. Recently, while maintaining his commitment to On The Ladder, he has shifted some time and energy to articles on ecology. It is an honor and a pleasure to feature some of his story and insights. ~Joseph
Where did your interest in journalism begin?
I graduated from Cass Technical High School in 2001. Growing up I heard so much about lay offs that I wanted to pursue a career that was in high demand. So, in the beginning I started in computer programming. That became my curriculum throughout high school, so I was never really exposed to journalism. After a short time though, I realized that I wasn’t really into computer programming. But, I stuck with it because I was studying more the business side. This ended up getting me into a club, Business Professionals of America.
I was a part of that club for a couple of years, so my senior year I ran for President and I got it! At that point I realized that I really liked talking in front of other people and I enjoyed dressing up. So, I saw myself in public broadcasting…even though I hadn’t taken any journalism classes.
When it was time to get ready to go to college, the decision was difficult. I really wanted to go to the University of Michigan, but the tuition was just so expensive. Meanwhile, my best friend was going to Michigan State, but it just didn’t make sense for me to go there either. Even though I got into both places, I realized that the cost was just too much.
There was one scholarship though that I carried in my backpack for nearly the entire year because I never thought I could get it. But, after applying for so many others and not getting enough money to attend the University of Michigan, I went for the scholarship, a full ride to Wayne State University in Detroit, and got it. So, I went there.It wasn’t my first choice, but it was a full ride. In fact, I didn’t know how hard the school was until I got there.
I had this one professor there that was just so tough. My freshman year I took a course with him and gained his respect, but then my junior year I had him again. There was this one paper which I wrote for him that I really goofed up on. I just had so much work that semester. I had a night job so I was working from 11 PM to 7 AM, I had a small internship at the paper, and I had classes. I wrote this paper, didn’t proof read it, and just handed it in. To make a long story short he shared it with all of my professors. I realized that something was wrong when all of my teachers started to kind of gang up on me. They got really tough. Then one day, another one of my professors pulled me aside and shared with me that my one professor shared that paper with all of them. After that I had to work really hard to regain their respect.
By the end of the year, the professor that was the hardest on me actually recommended me for journalist of the year, which I got! At the time I was working for Ford Motor Company and I had an internship with Fox 2 News, so my resume was strong.
In addition, I went down to the Poynter’s Institute on a Fellowship which was a fantastic experience. I had writing coaches from a variety of prestigious newspaper companies. After that, I went back to Ford Motor Company briefly before I accepted an offer from the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester.
How did you get into doing the On The Ladder?
When I was on the business desk the idea came up to create a feature on young professionals as a way to be an advocate for the younger generation in Rochester. They picked me because I’m a personable guy and I’m a young professional. It happened in February of 2008 and they wanted one every Sunday. At first, I was scared because I had no idea how I was supposed to feature a new person every Sunday, but we’ve only just started to feature the same profession more than once. It has gotten a lot of great feedback. In fact, some of the video footage we’ve shot for it has gotten some of the most hits on the website.
What do you see as your next step?
It’s most likely going to involve the young professionals’ community. We’re working on a few pieces right now which really focus on the problems faced by young professionals right now. For example, I’m currently working on a story talking about how lay offs are effecting us.
Some interesting facts I’ve learned about that have come from the labor department. Many young professionals are sticking around now because of the stability of the housing market and some of the other opportunities here. That’s been really cool to learn.
What do you enjoy the most about the paper?
The most fun part of the job is researching and writing cool stories, but there’s a balance because at the end of the day you’ve got to keep feeding the beast. So, it’s between doing stories you really want to do and just getting content out there. That’s a big challenge for this industry.
If it could happen with the snap of your fingers, what would you really want to be doing?
I’d really like to be on Good Morning America. After being in the industry for a little while, I realize that it takes a long, long time to get to a place like that, but in an ideal situation that would be fun. It would allow me to really bring out the lighter side of my personality.
We know journalists tend to move around quite a bit. Do you see yourself moving away from Rochester?
I really like it here. The way the industry is going, if you’re in a decent market the advice is to stay put for a bit. And, Rochester actually has some of the strongest numbers for Gannett, its parent company. We have one of the highest readerships of people who read us daily and on Sundays. So, people are reading my stuff. You can’t ask for anything more than that as a writer. We have about 230,000 readers, which is great market penetration for our market size.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love traveling and cruising. Love to eat! My favorite food place in Rochester would be Esan on Park Avenue. They serve Thai Food. I really enjoy dressing up. So, I’ve got a ton of dress clothes; 15 suits and 75 ties. I’m trying to get to 100 ties by the end of this year. And, I love cars as well.
I grew up with a huge family so I never had to cook. Then, I moved away from them to Rochester and now I’ve got to cook for myself. That has really gotten me into gourmet cooking.
One unique thing about the atmosphere in Rochester is that the young people seem to get along very well. Coming from Detroit, I have seen a lot of prejudice. But, in Rochester I’ve got a diverse set of friends and we all really get along. I love it. That’s one thing that really comforts my family back home because I’m really getting along well here. When I moved, my friends came together and helped me move my stuff. We’re there for each other. The young people here are just fabulous. That is a real plus for Rochester.
What final advice would you like to give?
It takes both good and bad experiences to help a person develop their confidence. The bad experiences are almost worth more because it sometimes helps motivate you to strive for perfection.
Is to inspire and enable YOU by showing how individuals can and do make a huge difference in their community.
We publish profiles of impactful people and articles designed to help you make a bigger difference in YOUR world. Our promise to add value first. Enjoy!
For updates on 2.0 & current adventures from Bigger Impact Co-Founder, Joseph Norman, visit Normanized.com or subscribe below.
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