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Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich," the best-selling business book of all time derived from the beliefs and actions of many of the richest and most successful people of the early 20th century and offers eight steps to success:
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Think and Grow Your Career, Part 4 of 10
Over the course of 20 years, Hill interviewed and observed them to find a recipe for success. In the book, he offers eight steps to success:
1. Desire
2. Faith
3. Autosuggestion
4. Knowledge
5. Imagination
6. Organized planning
7. Decision
8. Persistence
The third step, Autosuggestion, in Hill's own words is the medium for influencing the subconscious mind.
Hill says we must use affirmations to instruct our subconscious mind to do what we want it to do. More than likely, the fear that causes our confidence to shake and falter is in our subconscious mind. We don't wake up in the morning intending to worry about finding a job, or at least we don't think we do. However, if we have cultivated the habit of dwelling on the things we do NOT want to happen, that is exactly what we are doing.
To turn that around, we choose what we want to think and repeat it aloud consciously, intentionally, and with strong emotion. Yes, it may sound funny at first. For those of us who remember satirist and now Senator Al Franken's Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley in a mock self-help show called "Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley," it rings of "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like me."
The funnier thing is that it works. It makes conscious those negative statements we've been telling ourselves, possibly our whole lives. Rather than saying or even thinking "I'll never get a job in this economy," we can now change the message to "I have a job I enjoy that supports my family well."
Notice that the statement is in the present tense, as if it were already true. That is intentional because that is what our subconscious mind will believe. If we put the statement in the future, "I will have a job I enjoy," for example, it is equally true. Unfortunately, that enjoyable job will always be in the future. Your bills are in the present, so that is where the job needs to be, as well.
One more thing: While you are speaking your affirmation, emotionalize it; that is, feel the relief, gratitude, and joy at already having that job. Picture the details of the scene and breathe in its thrill. Notice where you are and who is around you. Feel the power of having achieved your goal. Believe that it is already true, because that is the sure route to your subconscious mind, the repository of our feelings.
Direct all of your thoughts to your positive goal, feel now the way you will feel when it happens, and you will get there.
Next: Think and Grow Rich 5: Do you have the training, knowledge, and experience you need for a new career?
Copyright © 2010, Jeri Hird Dutcher. All Rights Reserved.
Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Reprinted by permission of Jeri Hird Dutcher, nationally certified career coach and resume writer. For information about coaching and resume services, visit www.workwrite.net.
Jeri Hird Dutcher, Workwrite, inspires executives and professionals to envision, attract, and achieve their biggest dreams. She is certified as a Professional Career Coach, Resume Writer, and Employment Interview Professional. Jeri provides career / job search coaching and targeted resumes for clients in the United States and Canada. She welcomes inquiries at www.Workwrite.net/about/contact/ and comments at www.Workwrite.net/blog.