THE

17
WORKBOOK

UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES
OF SUCCESS AND
ACHIEVEMENT

YOUR PATH TO
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

NAPOLEON HILL
THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

IMPORTANT
To begin — Please save this workbook to your desktop or in another location.

How can you get the most out of this writeable workbook? Research has shown
that the more ways you interact with learning material, the deeper your learning
will be. Nightingale-Conant has created a cutting-edge learning system that in-
volves listening to the audio, reading the ideas in the workbook, and writing your
ideas and thoughts down. In fact, this workbook is designed so that you can fill
in your answers right inside this document.

For each session, we recommend the following:

I Preview the section of the workbook that corresponds with the audio
session, paying particular attention to the exercises.

I Listen to the audio session at least once.

I Read the text of the workbook and complete the exercise on the space
provided on the next page.

In addition to the exercises and questions, we’ve created an “ijournal” to make this
an even more interactive experience for you. At the end of this guide, you can write
down any additional thoughts, ideas, or insights to further personalize the material.
Remember, the more you apply this information, the more you’ll get out of it.

Let’s begin!

Authorized by The Napoleon Hill Foundation

Nightingale-Conant Corporation

©
MCMXCII Napoleon Hill Foundation
THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

T he key to success is a combination of the 17 principles presented here and on

the audio program, The Science of Personal Achievement.

These 17 principles serve as a dependable road map leading directly to the source
of all riches — be they intangible or material. Follow this map and you cannot miss
the way. But be prepared to comply with all of the instructions and to assume all of
the responsibilities that go with achieving the success.

And, above all, remember that enduring success must be shared with others.

Napoleon Hill spent a lifetime researching the secrets of success. Some of the most
celebrated and successful men of the 20th Century shared their insights with him
during the course of his work, initially inspired by the industrialist Andrew
Carnegie.

The 500 greats who collaborated with Napoleon Hill included Thomas Edison,
Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Woodrow Wilson, Charles Schwab,
J. Pierpont Morgan and F. W. Woolworth.

While you might not found an international corporation or invent a life-altering

device (but, then again, you might!), if you use these inspired and inspiring keys
to success, you will learn how to take full possession of your mind and your life,
understand how adversity can be turned to your advantage and develop nurturing,
harmonious relationships.

Countless millions worldwide have benefitted from Napoleon Hill’s work. Now it
is your turn.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

1 T
DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE
he starting point of all achievement, Definiteness of Purpose
— knowing what your goal is, knowing what you want — fills
you with a success-consciousness and protects you against failure.

Decide on a major goal in your life — either personal or professional. How

Exercise:

much time will you give yourself to achieve this goal? How will you know
that you achieved it? Is your success measurable? Attainable? On the next
page write out your goal in a clear, concise, positive manner. Print it out or
transfer it to a 3 x 5 card; place it in your office and home where you will
see your goal several times a day.

Successful people move on their

own imitative, but they know where
they are going before they start.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

1 My Goal
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

2 T
MASTER MIND PRINCIPLE
he coordination of effort between two or more people
in a spirit of perfect harmony in order to attain a specific
objective.

Keeping in mind the steps for creating a Master Mind group given below, list
Exercise:

the people who can help you reach a goal, as well as the ways in which each
can help you. Use the next page to make your list or for notes.

• Adopt a definite purpose with an objective to be attained by

the alliance

• Determine what appropriate benefit each member may receive in

return for his cooperation in the alliance, and see that he/she gets it

• Establish a plan through which each member makes a definite

contribution

• Ensure that harmony prevails in the group

• Remember that your watchword is definiteness of plan and purpose

• Calculate the number of individuals in the group by the nature of

the purpose to be attained

No man can become a permanent success

without taking others along with him.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

2 People and Notes to Help Me Attain My Goal

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

3 A
APPLIED FAITH
state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans
and purposes are translated into their physical or
financial equivalent.

What affirming statements, what beliefs do you feel you must have faith
Exercise:

in before you can reach your goal? These statements can refer to yourself,
your fellow citizens, or the universe (and accompanying creator/s) at large.

You can do it if you believe you can.

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

3 Affirming Statements
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

4 A
PLEASING PERSONALITY
pleasing personality helps you master the major
cause of failure –the inability to get along with people
harmoniously.

List the elements of a pleasing personality in which you most need to make
Exercise:

improvement. What steps will you take to make these changes? How will
changing them help you reach your goal?

Your personality is your greatest asset or

liability. It embraced everything you control:
mind, body and soul.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

4 My Personality Traits and The Steps to Improve Them

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

5 R
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
endering more and better service than you are paid to
render, doing it all the time and doing it with a pleasing,
positive attitude.

In the process of achieving your goal, and with the list of your “master minds”
Exercise:

in mind, what “extra miles” might you consider going? What might be the
anticipated results of these extra efforts?

The most successful men are

those who serve the greatest
number of people.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

5 My “Extra Miles” and Results Efforts

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

6 T
PERSONAL INITIATIVE
he inner power that start all action; the power that
inspires the completion of all that one begins.

What actions can you take today, right now, to move toward your goal?
Exercise:

How about tomorrow? What actions will be needed then? Outline

your planned movement toward your goal, beginning each step with the
words, “I will.” Be specific.

No man is free until he learns to do his own

thinking and gains the courage to act on his
own personal initiative.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

6 I will ...
My Actions to Achieve My Goal
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

7 T
SELF-DISCIPLINE
he ability to control our thoughts and emotions, self-discipline
is the only thing in life over which you have complete,
unchallenged and unchallengeable control.

Using the “I will…” statements outlined in #6, visualize in your mind that
Exercise:

you are doing each one. Imagine yourself going through whatever it takes
to successfully complete each step. How does it feel? What do you notice as
possible obstacles? What parts were easy? What ones were difficult?

Direct your thoughts, control your

emotions and ordain your destiny.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

7 The Challenges and Steps I Took to Achieve My Goal

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

T
Principle

8 CONTROLLED ATTENTION

he highest form of self-discipline, the act of coordinating all

your mind’s faculties and directing their combined power to
a given end.

What resources can you use for research as you plan your strategy for
Exercise:

achieving your goals? What affirmations would be most helpful if they

were placed in your mind for your subconscious to remember?

You can keep your mind working

for you, even while you sleep,
with controlled attention.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

8 My Resources and Affirmations

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

A
Principle

9 ENTHUSIASM

contagious state of mind that not only helps you gain the
cooperation of others but, more importantly, inspires you
to draw upon and use the power of your imagination.

It is always important to choose the most positive language – with yourself

Exercise:

and with others. Demonstrate that by writing ten statements about potential
obstacles that begin negatively, i.e., “I’m afraid that…” or “I doubt that …: or
“I don’t think that…” End each statement with a reason for your belief
or doubt. Now transform that into a positive statement by rewriting each
statement, replacing “I’m afraid” or “I doubt” with “I can” or “I will”. Once
again, give your reasons for holding these new enthusiastic and positive
beliefs. See the difference being positive in word choice can make?

Real enthusiasm comes from within,

and is faith in action.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

9 Developing Enthusiastic and Positive Beliefs

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

10 I
Principle

IMAGINATION

magination is your mind’s exercise, challenge and adventure.

It uses old ideas and established facts to reassemble them into
new combinations and to put them to new uses.

Two imagination exercises: First, imagine your “ideal” life, the one in which
Exercise:

your goal has been reached, things are the way that you want them, you have
everything you desire. What is that life like? Describe it in detail. Describe all
aspects of it — what you have, where you live, who you love, etc.

Second, imagine five alternative methods of achieving your goal; it’s always
good to have several choices. Let your imagination soar, held back by no
barriers. Might these new ideas be incorporated into your current plan of
attack?

Imagination is the workshop of the soul.

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

10 My Ideal Life and Alternative Methods to Achieve My Goal

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

11 H
Principle

LEARNING FROM ADVERSITY

ardship and adversity are a common language of nature in

AND DEFEAT

which she speaks to all living creatures and teaches them

many things they would not learn in any other way.

Review your life — both professional and in the personal realm — and recall
Exercise:

several obstacles that have stood in your way. Think about those obstacles
and what followed after encountering them. Remember how many of them
actually led to positive things: new knowledge, inspiration, a “lucky” break.
Describe one of these incidents in detail.

Every adversity carries with it the

seed of an equivalent or
greater benefit.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

11 Obstacles that Led to Positive Results

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

12 S
Principle

BUDGETING TIME

uccessful people know themselves, not as they think they are,

AND MONEY

but as their habits have made them: the use of time and money
are the most vital of these habits.

Detail the time and monetary expenses of achieving your goals. Break down
Exercise:

the costs as specifically as possible. Where will you find that time? Where
will you find the money? Will you have to deduct time or money from other
tasks or needs? What will you do with any spare money you might have?

Tell me how you use your spare time and

how you spend your money, and I will tell you
where and what you will be ten years from now.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

12 Expenses — Time and Money — Needed for My Goal

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

13 T
Principle

POSITIVE MENTAL

o govern your life, your must be able to govern your mind,

ATTITUDE

and that is the starting point of all riches.

Over the next few days, review how much time you spend on the following
Exercise:

negative aspects: complaining, gossiping, fearing or doubting, criticizing.

Make an effort to erase these from your life. Apply the time you save to some-
thing positive (see #12). Replace negative words — can’t, won’t, shouldn’t —
with positive ones — can, will, shall (see #9).

Be careful what you wish for,

for you will surely achieve it.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

13 Positive Thoughts to Develop My Mental Attitude

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

14 T
Principle

he accurate thinker recognizes all the facts of life, both good

ACCURATE THINKING

and bad, and assumes the responsibility of separating and

organizing the two, choosing those which serve his needs and
rejecting all others.

Think of three statements about the obstacles you might encounter that you
Exercise:

now consider facts. Think hard about the truth of each, doing research if
necessary (see #8). Are these really true? For example, you own a company
that sells beach chairs. Your obstacle is that beach chairs sell poorly in winter.
That is a fact. But does that mean beach chairs must sell poorly in January or
simply in cold weather? What if you found a distributor in the Caribbean or
South America? The fact is, beach chairs could sell year round; it all depends
on how you look at the facts!

You are what you think.

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

14 Examine the Facts About an Obstacle

and How to Overcome It
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

15 T
Principle

SOUND PHYSICAL HEALTH

he key that coordinates all other principles and sets all ideas
into motion, sound health provides the “flavor” to the good
things in life.

For one week, keep track of everything you eat or drink. What percentage of
Exercise:

that is “healthy”? What did you eat or drink that could do you harm? What
should you do away with? During that week, did you exercise? What sort of
exercise? How many times and for how long? And your sleep habits, how
were they? Did you get all of the sleep your body needed? Why or why not?
How could you change your lifestyle or your schedule to incorporate a proper
diet and sleep regimen?

Good health, a sense of well-being

and a purpose for living
make any day beautiful.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

15 My “Health” Goal
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

16 H
Principle

COOPERATION

armony based on a definite motive, cooperation is the

medium through which great personal power may be
attained; the willing cooperation and coordination of effort
to achieve a specific objective.

Returning to your Master Mind list (see #2), think of ways in which you might
Exercise:

use your skills and knowledge to help the people named there in return for the
help they can give you.

Harmonious cooperation is a priceless

asset that you can acquire in
proportion to your giving.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

16 My Skills and Knowledge to Help Others

 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

17 T
Principle

COSMIC HABITFORCE

he cosmic habitforce is the universe’s law of equilibrium,

the one natural law into which all other natural laws resolve
themselves.

You manifest in your life that which you think. List eight things you would
Exercise:

like to manifest by thinking about them repeatedly and by truly believing

in them.

When you learn to weave unpleasant

circumstances into something useful,
you’re on the road to success.
 THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Principle

17 My List
THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

My iJournal
THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

My iJournal
THE 17 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Add These Inspiring Nightingale-Conant Titles

to Your Skill Building Library

Think and Grow Rich

By Napoleon Hill
8741CD

The 5 Disciplines of Powerful People:

How to Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself
By John Powers
22230CD

The Pyramid of Success:

Championship Philosophies and Techniques on Winning
Jim Harrick with John Wooden
12920CD

The Miracle of Self-Discipline:

The “No Excuses” Way to Getting Things Done
By Brian Tracy
26340CD

The Living Faith Series:

Life-Changing Tools for the Growing Christian
By Bill Hybels, Haddon Robinson and Luis Palau
20401CD

All available from Nightingale-Conant at phone: 1-800-525-9000

or visit our website at www.nightingale.com

or for our UK clients

phone: 01803 666100 • nightingaleconant.co.uk.

843PG-WCDR