Think and Grow Rich

Through examples, anecdotes, and success stories, Hill elucidates the power of setting clear, definite goals. He attributes success to persistence in the pursuit of goals, while never offering counter-examples of people whose persistence didn’t pay off. Hill refers to the case of Edwin C. Barnes, who, despite lacking formal education and financial resources, set his sights on partnering with Thomas Edison. Barnes exhibited an unrelenting determination and persistence, refusing to accept failure as an option until he achieved his goal of becoming Edison’s business associate. Hill argues that Barnes’s commitment to his objective illustrates the impact of setting specific goals and persisting in their attainment. Without any other context for this anecdote, or any description of other people who may also have wanted to partner with Edison but didn’t, readers are pushed into Hill’s narrow analysis. Similarly, Hill highlights the story of Henry Ford, whose resolute determination to create an affordable, mass-produced automobile led to the realization of his vision. Ford encountered numerous obstacles and setbacks along the way, but his persistence and commitment to his goal enabled him to overcome adversity and revolutionize the automotive industry.

The only counter-example Hill offers is the story of R. U. Darby, which shows that giving up is always a mistake. Darby ventured into the gold mining business during the Gold Rush era. After an investment of significant resources in a mining operation, Darby’s efforts yielded little success, prompting him to abandon his pursuit in frustration, famously stopping three feet shy of a gold vein. The upshot of Darby’s story, according to Hill, is to learn to never change course. Upon selling his equipment to a junk dealer, Darby vowed: “I stopped three feet from gold, but I will never stop because men say ‘no’ when I ask them to buy insurance” (6). With this dogged approach, Darby eventually achieved remarkable success in the insurance industry. Darby’s story underscores the critical importance of persistence in the face of adversity and the impact of resolute goal-setting.

Hill’s goal is not historical accuracy; rather, he crafts every biographical sketch to fit his framework. This makes him conflate and de-contextualize the lives of notable figures such as Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln, making the role of persistence the key facet in each. According to Hill, despite facing repeated failures and setbacks, Edison persisted in his quest to invent the electric light bulb. His determination ultimately led to the realization of his vision and revolutionized the world. In reality, Edison did not invent the bulb, but merely edged out the competition and brought his product to market faster. Similarly, Hill refers to Lincoln’s resilience and perseverance, which serve as a reminder of the power of persistence in the face of adversity and elides any other factors that may have led to Lincoln’s successful presidency.

Hill underscores the importance of clarity and specificity when setting goals, which enhances focus and motivation. He introduces the concept of the “Definite Chief Aim” (51), urging readers to crystallize their desires into clearly defined objectives before relentlessly pursuing them, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between goal-setting and persistence.