"TIISG" The Secret of Napoleon Hill, P.T. Barnum, and Me

I'm riveted by the biography of Napoleon Hill, theauthor of the classic book "Think and Grow Rich."

Not only did this man struggle for 20 years towrite the definitive guide to success, but heexperienced poverty, his life was threatened, hisbackers were murdered, he suffered from boutsof hopelessness, and his family suffered beyondall understanding.

His was not an overnight success.

One thing that stood out in Hill's life story washis ability to turn the negative into the positive. Healways looked for what some people call that silverlining in the dark cloud. As I thought about Hill'slife, I realized I've been noticing this ability to seethe good in the bad practiced by others, too.

I was at a meeting with my friend Mark Joyner,Internet pioneer and bestselling author. I overheardMark talking to a man who had just gone through helldue to the FTC. Mark listened to the man's sad storyand then said, "Turn it into something good."

This was remarkable advice. It's the kind of thingNapoleon Hill would have said. It goes against whatmost people ever even attempt to try. The whole idea oftaking whatever happens to you and turning it intosomething good seems, at first glance, preposterous.

But this also seems to be a key to success. Iremember P.T. Barnum offering a to buy a rival'selephant. He sent a telegram stating his offer. Hiscompetitors took Barnum's telegram and ran it as an ad,saying, "Here's what Barnum thinks of our elephant."

Instead of being upset, Barnum decided to join withthose competitors. That gave birth to the famous Barnum& Bailey Circus. Barnum took the experience and turnedit into something good.

The other day Nerissa, my love, released her firste-book at www.freevideoediting.com. She had asmall mistake on her site. When I went to promoteher site, I used the mistake as a way to get attentionfor her e-book. I could have said, "Correct your site."

Instead I sent out an email that said, "There is amistake on her site. If you can spot it, I'll give youa gift." This caused people to be curious, a powerfulmotivator. It drove traffic to her site. Sales jumped.

What I, Barnum, Joyner, and Hill are doing is onething: Taking the so-called negative experiences inlife and turning them into something good. I call thisTIISG. It stands for Turn It Into Something Good.

You have the ability to do this. It's a choice. Nomatter what happens, take a breath and ask, "Howcan I turn this into something good?"

The question redirects your mind. Instead oflooking at the problem, you are now looking forsolutions. This is a brilliant way to learn how tooperate your own brain. You become the master,not the slave, of your life.

Andrew Carnegie -- that tycoon who challengedNapoleon Hill to undertake his 20 year quest touncover the secrets of success -- confessed thatthe principle key to his own staggering successwas the ability to operate his own mind.

He told Hill, "I am no longer cursed by povertybecause I took possession of my own mind, and that mindhas yielded me every material thing I want, and muchmore than I need. But this power of mind is a universalone, available to the humblest person as it is to thegreatest."

It all begins with the basic TIISG question: "Howcan I turn this into something good?"

The answer will bring you new choices, happiness,and may lead to wealth you never dreamed of before.

Just remember TIISG.

Try it and see.