Desire

Napoleon Hill in 1937 Photograph by New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection/Library of Congress

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."

Napoleon Hill

If you are familiar with Napoleon Hill, you know that he wrote Think and Grow Rich, a book in which he interviewed and examined successful men from the early 1900's to see what made them tick. One of the major factors in their accomplishments was an unwavering desire. Do you have a strong feeling of wanting to have or do something? What would it look like to have it? Can you imagine yourself receiving it?

Those are all steps toward achievement and next comes another question: Are you

interested or committed? Are you thinking about it or committed? Would you like it or are you committed? Do you see the difference?

When we are interested, thinking about it or would like it, our mind lets the idea roll around while we debate ourselves. On the other hand, if we are committed we will take whatever actions to make it happen. If we have a keen desire, we won't listen to naysayers or fear-based discouragement. We will only look at the end result and do whatever it takes to get there. Desire must always be the starting point for our success and ability to reach the end result we want.