Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Take a Persistence Inventory



Take a Persistence Inventory

The book, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill has sold more than 50 million copies since it came out in print. It’s a great read with a lot of practical advice on how to mix up your own magical formula for success.
I’m a sales professional, and I’m well aware that my paycheck is directly linked to my willingness and ability to persist. Hill’s “Persistence Inventory” is a useful way to take stock of what I’m doing, and what I need to do better.
Or as Hill puts it, “These are the weaknesses that must be mastered by all who accumulate riches.”
Napoleon Hill’s Persistence Inventory:
1.      Failure to recognize and to define clearly exactly what one wants.
2.      Procrastination, with or without cause.
3.      Lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge.
4.      Indecision.
5.      The habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems.
6.      Self-satisfaction (which can be tough to recognize at times in my opinion!)
7.      Indifference, usually reflected in one’s readiness to compromise on all occasions, rather than meeting opposition and fighting it.
8.      The habit of blaming others for one’s mistakes, and accepting unfavorable circumstances as unavoidable.
9.      Weakness of desire, due to the choice of motives that impel action.
10.  Willingness to quit at the first sign of defeat.
11.  Lack of organized plans, in writing, so you can analyze your thinking.
12.  The habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or grab opportunity when it appears.
13.  Wishing instead of willing.
14.  The habit of compromising with poverty instead of aiming at riches.
15.  Searching for all the short-cuts to riches, trying to get without giving a fair equivalent in effort.
16.  Fear of criticism so you don’t create plans and put them into action.

As you think about these items, I challenge you to answer the core question Hill asked in his book: Can you imagine yourself as a millionaire?

And what would you need to do differently when you’re selling to achieve that?

Learn More about Napoleon Hill at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Hill

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