Was Napoleon Hill Wrong?

29 replies
I read the book years ago and I used to believe it.

His famous philosophy of staking all you have on your dreams and being prepared to "Burn The Bridges Behind You."

The idea of having a plan B would only distract you from plan A.

But... having many years pass, I now find myself in total disagreement with Napoleon.

When you look at history and all the great wars we've had... I see a lot of flaws in this philosophy.

In fact, this way of thinking, is precisely why Germany lost the war.

I mean just think about it...what if we were headed for nuclear war and our president decided he was not going to have a plan B?

He was going to believe in this one solid plan to get us out of this war and burn all bridges behind him.

Is this someone you would want to posses the nuclear codes?

When we really think about this philosophy is it even rational?

As much as we want to believe we can acomplish a goal there are always uncertain things in our mist that cannot be forecast.

That's why we must have a plan B.

Not because we are afraid of failure and not because we are admitting failure but because we understand that in life, many times, failure is eminent.

So instead of being in denial about it and becoming blindsided by flaky irrational philosophy's.

We should learn WHY we failed (or can fail) before we lose everything we have and refine our strategy or even change it.

Or simply go with plan B.

Thoughts?
#hill #napoleon #wrong
  • Profile picture of the author Micah Medina
    You've got to realistically assess the stakes before you pull a Cortez and burn your boats behind you. Sure, it's theoretically great to risk everything... but what if everything represents your house... your car... your relationship with your family...

    We should be willing to sacrifice everything for what we value most in life, but it's rare that money is "that thing". For me, it's my family/friends

    For somebody else? It might be spirituality or politics or some other thing. It's hard to have a Plan B for that stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    It really depends on the person and the gravity of the situation they are in.

    For some people, focusing solely on Plan A with no Plan B available will ensure success.

    For other people, it is a fool's game not to have a Plan B available.

    Napoleon Hill's advice is the right advice for some people, but certainly not for the majority.
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  • Profile picture of the author Verisimilitude
    Sounds plausible in theory - it kind of eliminates the "gambler's fallacy" mindset that might cause you to hang on to plan B when plan A is much better. However, if you're disciplined and are able to train yourself to be able to give it your all towards a project but still be able to drop it at a moment's notice if it doesn't work out, I don't think the one-track-mind thing is necessary.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
    Originally Posted by TheSalesTechnician View Post

    I read the book years ago and I used to believe it.

    His famous philosophy of staking all you have on your dreams and being prepared to "Burn The Bridges Behind You."

    The idea of having a plan B would only distract you from plan A.

    But... having many years pass, I now find myself in total disagreement with Napoleon.
    One of the first examples in the book was Barnes' goal to be a business partner with Edison. That didn't happen on first meeting but he had a plan to get around those hurdles. His end goal was the same regardless of the different paths he had to take to get there. You need to make those adaptations while not losing focus on the end goal.

    Instead of thinking of them as Plan A and Plan B - think of them as Route A and Route B with your goal at the end of the path.

    That's my take on it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Robert H Cwik
      Originally Posted by Fraggler View Post

      Instead of thinking of them as Plan A and Plan B - think of them as Route A and Route B with your goal at the end of the path.

      That's my take on it.
      That's the way to see it. Reaching your goal is Plan A. The ways you reach it are the routes you take. You may start one thing and see it does not bring you closer to your goal so you find another one that works.

      Unfortunately, people nowadays are so impatient that they cry out "that stuff doesn't work!" after hours of implementing new technique. Lack of focus is common. Lot's of those who try to "think and grow rich" end up thinking only and testing multiple routes without getting to the end of none of them.

      In the simplest term, plan A is:

      Determine your goal.
      Do whatever it takes to do to reach it.

      What possible Plan B could exist to it?
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    • Profile picture of the author deefondee
      Fraggler is on target. The ones who need plan B make an assumption that plan B will work. This is the same person who thought plan A would work. Plan B could easily be as bad as plan A....now what?.....plan C?

      A goal with an intended path....and then make the adaptations necessary to bob and weave but still on track to the goal. Maybe route A....change to route B when the mud is deep but stay on goal no matter what.

      Nobody can predict all things with accuracy. But you can STAY FOCUSED on the goal.
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      • Profile picture of the author Shane Hon
        It is somehow true that having a plan B would temp the person to give up their plan A when things aren't going the way it should after a number of obstacles as plan B is something to fall back on.

        But i guess it is easier said than done not to have a plan B especially if plan A involves family or people who depend on you.

        If someone was really going to have just a plan A and nothing else, then it is a good idea for he/she to come up with as many plans/routes to back plan A up when things don't turn out exactly the way it should.
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  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    One of my fvorite Napolean Hill quotes is:

    "Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action."
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  • Profile picture of the author HarrisonJ
    Yep, having no Plan B is pretty hardcore. Considering that most projects you start will fail, your Plan B should be to try again with a new idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    I've never been a plan B type of person. Actually, I blogged about that very point here ...

    Having a Plan B

    Of course, Napoleon Hill wasn't talking about warfare so I'm not sure how much of his philosophy can be directly applied.

    However, even in such situations, you can have a myriad plans if you wish, but you can only have one action path. That means if plan A runs into difficulty, you often can't drop it and begin afresh.

    Thus, when the time comes to abandon plan A, your plan B (if you have one) might not be workable because you are no longer at the starting point. Your new plan, to get you around the present difficulty, might therefore be seen as a refinement of plan A.

    Will
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  • Profile picture of the author Meharis
    Originally Posted by TheSalesTechnician View Post

    I read the book years ago and I used to believe it.

    His famous philosophy of staking all you have on your dreams and being prepared to "Burn The Bridges Behind You."

    The idea of having a plan B would only distract you from plan A.

    But... having many years pass, I now find myself in total disagreement with Napoleon.

    When you look at history and all the great wars we've had... I see a lot of flaws in this philosophy.

    In fact, this way of thinking, is precisely why Germany lost the war.

    I mean just think about it...what if we were headed for nuclear war and our president decided he was not going to have a plan B?

    He was going to believe in this one solid plan to get us out of this war and burn all bridges behind him.

    Is this someone you would want to posses the nuclear codes?

    When we really think about this philosophy is it even rational?

    As much as we want to believe we can acomplish a goal there are always uncertain things in our mist that cannot be forecast.

    That's why we must have a plan B.

    Not because we are afraid of failure and not because we are admitting failure but because we understand that in life, many times, failure is eminent.

    So instead of being in denial about it and becoming blindsided by flaky irrational philosophy's.

    We should learn WHY we failed (or can fail) before we lose everything we have and refine our strategy or even change it.

    Or simply go with plan B.

    Thoughts?

    There's no lecture here at all. Just a quick suggestion in my behalf.
    Please, go back and read the book again. I don't care how many times you did it.
    I believe you're missing the point. Really.
    What do you've to loose?

    Meharis
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    No, no Plan B here. For me, a Plan B is a distraction and I struggle constantly to keep distractions to a minimum.
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  • Profile picture of the author vishalduggal
    There is a BIG difference between marketing plans and war strategies.
    It is solely depends on the person and his attitude. For me personally having a plan B is bad idea because that gets me distracted and ignore things.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamesrich1
    No I believe that Napolean Hill was right in saying that you have to burn your bridges behind you when you commit to definite purpose. Struggle and temporary defeat come along with success. If you have back up plan you will not feel completely obligated to carry out your original mission no matter what. I had a similar situation in my own life where a backup plan allowed me to scurry out of what I promised myself that I would do. I believe that if you have a straight path to your goal with no other paths you MUST complete your goal.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
    Now I wouldn't advise this to anyone else but in 2012 if ever, I think it's the appropriate time for me, at this point to stick with plan A and burn some bridges. Maybe not all of them, but just a few to fuel up my main plan. It does help when you get rid a lot of stumbling blocks.

    Anything that gives Plan A more time, money and dedication is welcomed at this time.

    Again, this is just me, not putting any advice out there for anyone to try out.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    It is perfectly normal-- and advisable-- to have contingency plans.

    The idea is that you have to WIN-- You must reach your goal-- and you cannot retreat or quit.


    But, before you change your plan, be sure to fully assess the situation so that you don't stop 3 feet from gold.
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    • Profile picture of the author TerryL
      If you want something badly enough, and nothing else will do, then having a Plan B is just a disservice to your true self. You'd be settling if you went for plan B. For some people, though, they need that safety net of a plan B. It all depends on how committed you are to your main goal and how badly you want it. Are you willing to put everything you've got into getting it, with NO possibility of any other outcome (no plan B), or are you willing to settle for something a little less than what you wanted but still agreeable to you (plan B)?

      Having no plan B can be a very powerful motivator, but it might not be the right way of doing things for everyone. For others, though, it is the only way they CAN do things. Different ways for different people. It's good advice, from Napoleon Hill, for the people to whom it applies.
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      • Profile picture of the author Hooker
        Mr. Hill was talking about success, not war. In terms of the former, I agree. In the latter, I do not.
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  • Profile picture of the author pbarnhart
    Forget Napoleon Hill - he was definitely wrong. Read The Dip by Seth Godin.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
      Originally Posted by pbarnhart View Post

      Forget Napoleon Hill - he was definitely wrong. Read The Dip by Seth Godin.

      That really isn't a fair comparaison.

      In The Dip Seth is talking about your method for reaching your goals, as well as those times when you are trying to go up the elevator of success, and you suddenly look around and find that you're in the wrong building, and there is somewhere else you would rather be.


      Napoleon was talking about your Definite Chief Aim, the Ulitimate Purpose that you have chosen for your life, the timeless, deepest Burning Desires from the core of your being.
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      • Profile picture of the author TerryL
        Originally Posted by MikeTucker View Post



        Napoleon was talking about your Definite Chief Aim, the Ulitimate Purpose that you have chosen for your life, the timeless, deepest Burning Desires from the core of your being.
        That's the one area you never want to compromise on....the deep, innermost reason for your being. It's what you know deep inside of you that you were meant to do, your purpose for being here on this earth at this time. Never settle for less than that or give up on it or have a plan B for it, because that purpose IS you. To compromise on it is to be untrue to yourself and you'll never be truly happy that way.

        Anything less than your true purpose may be suitable for a plan B, unless you're the type who just doesn't like to compromise on anything. And that's okay, too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Miles Kral
    I think it depends on the situation, nothing beats being completely focused on achieving your plan A. But in certain situations it's only prudent to have a back-up. Just like in negotiations, you can't have just one outcome in mind because you will not get it, you have to have a strategy and be flexible in certain areas.
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  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    What are you talking about? This is Plan B!

    Plan A was to be a famous rock star.

    Actually this is Plan C, though Plan B "Marry Jennifer Lopez" was probably unrealistic...



    Mahlon
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  • Profile picture of the author williamrs
    You're analyzing this philosophy considering facts, but I think it's more related to goals and achieving those goals.

    IMO (which is just my opinion), he means that we shouldn't have a secondary goal, which will be fine in case we don't reach our main goal. If you wnat something, fight for that and don't settle for anything smaller or secondary.

    I don't know if he is right or not (who am I to say that? ), but I believe a man needs to have something to follow in their life. Right and wrong can be just a point of view, but we need to have a point of view and determine what's right and wrong for us so taht we can live a coherent life. That said, in my life I don't work with secondary goals and I don't give up until I get what I want. I'm just 20 years old and I may change my mind in the future, but that's what I believe in now, that's the mindset that made me a successful internet marketer and, so far, that's what has been helping me to be successful with pretty much everything I do.


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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Wilhite
    By burning bridges, the assumption, I think Napoleon had in mind, is that you are a sane person with the capacity to make sound judgment. It would mean that you have assessed all the possible outcomes and decided that plan B is not required.

    For instance, if you decided to be an Internet Marketer, there is no need of having plan B of working at McDonald's. But one is sane enough to know that bills must be paid IM or not.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      The real tragedy is realizing that Napoleon Hill was right. It seems most people do have a plan B - and many have plans C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z ... so nothing ever gets done.
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  • Profile picture of the author kea55
    What book are you talking about. Is this Think and Grow Rich?
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  • Yea I personally usually have a plan B. I guess it depends on the kind of person you are. Some folks are happy with a single plan, but the more cautious like a backup.
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