| What If Napoleon Hill Had Not Written Think And | | | | LESS experienced or knowledgeable about what to |
| Grow Rich? | | | | expect. Many of them are likely to appreciate hearing |
| What would this world have been like if Hill had not | | | | from you, up front, some hints about what they will |
| written that wonderful book? Think back to all the | | | | face during their journey, and how you dealt with the |
| successful people you know who have mentioned | | | | challenges that cropped up, plus what you think |
| that reading THAT book transformed their lives. | | | | THEY can do to make good progress. |
| Imagine if they had never read the book i.e. it had | | | | In my case, I am sharing insights gained from my |
| not been written. The implications would be multiple | | | | experiences as an entrepreneur, through writing |
| fold. Let's consider a few examples. | | | | articles and books, and in daily interactions. I implore |
| Maybe today, Dr. Walter Doyles Staples would not | | | | you to begin documenting as much of your own |
| be the accomplished person whose works have been | | | | experiences as possible. This way, you can also |
| a source of education and inspiration for thousands | | | | become equipped over time, to share useful learning |
| of people worldwide. Robert Kiyosaki would probably | | | | with others, and make their journey less difficult. |
| not be the person we know today, whose message | | | | No one person has the duty of teaching others |
| about proper education of children, and the need for | | | | about how to succeed in life. Every one of us can |
| a reform of our traditional educational system, | | | | teach what s/he knows to those who need to know |
| opened the eyes of many parents to what they can | | | | it by writing about it. The best part is that once |
| do to help their kids succeed in life. | | | | you've written it, you will not need to write it again. |
| My point is that when people who undergo useful | | | | All those who want it will only then have to go to |
| authentic experiences (or who make contact with | | | | the bookstore or website where it is available and |
| those who do so), write in order to share their | | | | get their copy. |
| acquired knowledge with others, significant positive | | | | I Found Supporting Evidence That "You Need To |
| social development can quite often take place as a | | | | Write", In Dr. Spencer Johnson's Book: "Who Moved |
| result. This will happen especially if those who read | | | | My Cheese"! |
| the written works, actually take action to diligently | | | | Who better to tell you what it feels like(or takes) to |
| apply the knowledge they acquire from doing so in | | | | survive as a start-up entrepreneur, if not someone |
| their personal lives. | | | | currently in the struggle - or recently out of it? If you |
| You Can Change Lives Through Your Writings | | | | wanted to get an authentic update on the |
| By writing, we give others the opportunity to | | | | socioeconomic situation in Nigeria, would you ask your |
| embark, more intelligently, and therefore with greater | | | | "Professor Uncle" who travels once-a-year to Lagos |
| chances of success, on doing something we(or | | | | on official visits - or would you ask your Aunt who |
| persons we closely studied) have also done in the | | | | lives in Lagos, and visits New York on business every |
| past and/or are still doing. Anyone who has applied | | | | other month? |
| honest and diligent effort to a particular cause, can | | | | The foregoing is why I chose to write about my |
| write competently about what s/he has done in a | | | | experiences early in my entrepreneurial career, and |
| way that can benefit others who wish to pursue a | | | | not wait till I get "up to the very top" before doing |
| similar goal. | | | | so. But I got even more convinced that this was the |
| While we are on the subject, have you ever | | | | right thing to do, when I read the little book titled |
| wondered why it is that millions of parents worldwide | | | | "Who moved my cheese?" written by Dr. Spencer |
| have bought books by Robert Kiyosaki, and followed | | | | Johnson. |
| his advice about how to educate kids/prepare them | | | | The Book's Parable About Hem & Haw(2 little |
| to achieve financial independence, even though | | | | people) As Well As Sniff & Scurry(2 Mice) |
| Robert clearly stated in the books that he and his | | | | The book narrates an engaging parable about 4 |
| wife(Kim) had no kids of their own? | | | | characters - Sniff and Scurry (2 Mice) and also Hem |
| I have, and the ONLY logical explanation for what | | | | and Haw (2 little people). The parable illustrates the |
| should have been an unreasonable action on that part | | | | various ways different people react to unexpected |
| of the parents is this: They (wisely) chose to look | | | | changes/setbacks that occur in their lives on a daily |
| beyond Robert NOT being a parent, to the intuitive | | | | basis. |
| and common sense logic of the ideas he presented, | | | | In admonishing us(readers) to learn to laugh at |
| which resonated with those they had themselves | | | | ourselves, and the mistakes we make in life, (so as |
| battled with, during their own childhoods. That's why | | | | to be able to learn from them and "move on" with |
| when you read some of the re-printed testimonials in | | | | our lives), Dr. Johnson uses the analogy of "moving |
| Robert's bestseller titled "If you want to be rich and | | | | cheese" to illustrate how our circumstances/situations |
| happy, don't go to school?", you will notice many of | | | | in life will inevitably change. The moral of the parable |
| those people quoted said things like "That's what I | | | | is that we all need to be prepared for those changes |
| think"; "puts into words what I have been thinking | | | | when (not "if") eventually they occur. If we're |
| for a long time" etc. | | | | prepared, and we respond quickly and intelligently to |
| When I read those commentaries/testimonials by | | | | them (instead of protesting and complaining), we will |
| those who read the above mentioned book, I could | | | | often find that we end up being better off in the |
| not help wondering if they would have ever gotten | | | | long run. |
| around to doing anything about what they were | | | | Dr. Johnson takes the reader through a series of |
| "thinking" IF someone like Robert had not decided to | | | | scenarios in which the 4 characters employ various |
| write it all in a book by himself. Again, back to the | | | | methods to deal with the unexpected changes. The |
| questions with which I started this article: What if | | | | 2 little people - Hem and Haw - unlike the mice, had |
| Robert had never chosen to write any of his books? | | | | major problems getting over the setback (not |
| One thing at least is certain: our thinking about how | | | | surprising is it? A typical human reaction!) and moving |
| children should be educated and prepared to pursue | | | | on with their lives. Hem in particular remained |
| success in life as independent adults, would be worse | | | | adamant that it was "unfair" for the cheese to have |
| off than it is now. That is the value that Robert's | | | | been moved - and prevailed on Haw(who over time |
| writing has added to millions of lives the world over - | | | | became more disposed to trying to find a way out |
| mine inclusive(the distance between our continents of | | | | of the fix they were in) to stay with him till things |
| residence notwithstanding). | | | | "returned to normal", or "someone gave them an |
| Many People Who Should Write Are NOT Writing | | | | explanation" for moving their cheese. |
| In many societies, people daily undergo unique | | | | Remember! It's a parable, and if you think back to |
| experiences of all kinds, that those around them may | | | | our lives as humans, you should't have much |
| never have the opportunity of going through. For | | | | problems recalling those occasions when you've been |
| each person, the learning acquired through those | | | | a complainer. Sometime in the past(or possibly even |
| experiences literally shapes who they become over | | | | now) you may have been just like Hem - who never |
| time, and ultimately determines whether or not - or | | | | saw any good in a change that affected you(in your |
| better still how well - they succeed. | | | | opinion) "negatively". An example of such a change is |
| I am of the firm opinion based on the above, that | | | | a lateral movement from your job to another |
| EACH one of us(if s/he were to make conscious | | | | seemingly less glamorous one in your company. |
| effort) can effectively draw upon the knowledge and | | | | Lest I reproduce the entire book here, I will get |
| insight acquired through his/her unique, personal | | | | straight to the point I wish to make. At a point, Haw |
| experiences, to teach others how to deal with them | | | | decided that since the mice had taken off in search |
| successfully, should they encounter something similar. | | | | of another cheese almost immediately the initial |
| What I have just stated is the reason why I am | | | | cheese had moved, he would do the same. So, he |
| convinced we can never have too many motivational | | | | left Hem, (after trying without success to get him to |
| speakers in the world. It is not possible to have too | | | | go along), sitting and complaining, and began his |
| many pastors, or preachers or trainers in the world | | | | search. |
| either. I speak with regard to the possibility of a | | | | "Haw" Starts Writing To Share What He Learns |
| situation arising where you end up with many | | | | BEFORE He achieves Success |
| individuals who do the same thing in exactly the | | | | As he journeyed, he made a lot of new discoveries, |
| same way EVERY time, so that if you have seen | | | | gaining new and fresh insights that excited him a |
| one, you would have seen all the others. | | | | great deal. In fact, he found the learnings he picked |
| No two motivational speakers can have exactly the | | | | up while trying to find new cheese so profound that |
| same audience appeal, and effect on people when | | | | he decided to write each learning on the wall(in form |
| they speak. Think about it. When you hear that Zig | | | | of a short phrase). This was so that anyone who |
| Ziglar is going to be speaking at an event you plan to | | | | was coming along after him, would benefit from the |
| attend, there is a kind of expectation you have | | | | knowledge he had discovered. |
| compared to what you feel when another speaker's | | | | Examples of the phrases he wrote are: "If you do |
| name is mentioned. | | | | not change, you can become extinct"; "When you |
| Each one of us has a distinguishing trait or quality that | | | | move beyond your fear, you feel free"; and |
| sets him apart from others who do what s/he does. | | | | "Imagining myself enjoying new cheese even before |
| Not matter how many stand up comedians perform | | | | I find it, leads me to it". |
| on one show, each ONE of them will always have at | | | | I have chosen to adopt the method used by Haw, |
| least ONE joke that is different from those told by | | | | by writing to share my experiences so far, for the |
| his/her counterparts. And s/he will also have a | | | | benefit of others who might wish to also go into |
| peculiar "style of delivery" that is unique to him/her - | | | | entrepreneuring. Even before he found new cheese, |
| except of course s/he unwisely chooses to mimic a | | | | Haw began to share the little knowledge he was |
| role model, mentor etc. | | | | picking up along the way/during the journey. He felt |
| If all of the above is true, it then logically follows, | | | | (quite rightly too) that there was no point waiting till |
| that if an individual were to write a (non-fiction) book | | | | he got to the "end" of his journey, and found new |
| or article based on his/her area of competence or | | | | cheese, before he shared the little he already knew. |
| experience, there is a possibility that a person looking | | | | This was because he recognised that he was |
| for such information will find it a useful, if not | | | | experiencing useful - though sometimes painful - |
| entertaining, read. | | | | lessons that could benefit others tremendously, if |
| It might help to inform (or remind) you, that even | | | | they knew them before facing similar challenges. |
| Napoleon Hill was initially plagued with self-doubt, | | | | Summary |
| when Andrew Carnegie first asked him to write the | | | | I personally believe that it takes strength of |
| book(Think And Grow Rich). Hill worried among other | | | | character - and tremendous self belief - to |
| things that he was not "qualified" or "competent" | | | | repeatedly make out time to share painful lessons |
| enough - at the time - to write it. But thankfully, he | | | | learnt(through writing, and/or speaking), in the pursuit |
| eventually brushed those fears aside, and did us all a | | | | of a challenging goal(s), especially while still working to |
| favour by working hard to write the book that today | | | | achieve it(them). |
| has changed millions of lives for the better. | | | | Another lesson we can take away from Dr. Johnson's |
| No One Needs A Teaching Certificate Or University | | | | book, is that we can each move our own |
| Degree To Share His/Her Experience-Based | | | | cheese(become "masters of our fate"), instead of |
| Knowledge With Others Who Need It | | | | waiting for others to do it for us. Nearly five years |
| I am yet to learn of a situation where a person who | | | | ago, I chose to move mine by leaving the comfort |
| - through great will power and endurance - survived | | | | of what should have been a comfortable job in a |
| years of isolation as a prisoner of war was asked to | | | | corporate organisation, to follow my longstanding |
| get a writing degree, or teaching certificate before s | | | | vision of running my own businesses. I also decided |
| he could write a book or speak to audiences in | | | | that I wanted to spend much of my time, sharing |
| seminars about (a) what it feels like and (b) how to | | | | with others about how to do the things I have |
| survive under such situations. | | | | achieved in various areas of my past, present and |
| At the least, if you feel you cannot write it yourself, | | | | future endeavours. |
| engage the services of a freelance professional, who | | | | We need to share information/knowledge and |
| will work with you to produce a worthwhile summary | | | | discoveries about life, and how to live it better, with |
| of your experiences in your chosen area of interest | | | | each other. We need to do so regularly, and with |
| or competence. Ultimately however, developing your | | | | plenty of excitement and passion. Our actions in this |
| writing skills would not be a bad idea, as it would | | | | regard must be borne out of a genuine desire to |
| enable you do more spontaneous writing than you | | | | enrich the lives of others, and help them get ahead |
| could if someone was taking notes from you. | | | | like we are doing. |
| You Can Write While Still In The Process Of Acquiring | | | | The result would be a society in which mutually |
| The Experience(s) | | | | beneficial exchange of information takes place among |
| Incidentally we need not wait until we have | | | | people in a way that enhances social development, |
| succeeded in achieving the goal we pursue before | | | | making life more fulfilling for every member. A |
| we write for others to learn from us. For instance a | | | | society where this happens continually, and |
| person who never won the gold at the olympics or | | | | spontaneously, would be a very successful one. Many |
| indeed, who never made it to the finals of the | | | | developed countries are already on the path toward |
| Olympic 100m finals could use THAT thought to | | | | attaining this futuristic state. |
| motivate him/herself to draw from his/her "failures" | | | | Developing countries which desire to achieve similar |
| and coach a younger athlete with potential to win | | | | progress, will need to challenge MANY MORE of their |
| the gold. | | | | members to write MORE OFTEN(give more public |
| Taking this further, a person who has "failed" in a bid | | | | speeches, seminars, practical workshops, coaching |
| to achieve a goal could, with a positive mental | | | | programs) based on authentic experiences they have |
| attitude, articulate a set of learning points about what | | | | had, that would empower others to succeed in |
| caused him/her to fail, and use them to teach | | | | pursuit of their life goals. |
| others(one-on-one or through a book or article) | | | | Writing is a powerful way to communicate useful |
| about what to do to increase their chances of | | | | knowledge acquired through years of experience and |
| success. | | | | sometimes painful effort by the writer, to others. |
| You do NOT need to wait till you become the | | | | Any society that wishes to develop fully, in all |
| Managing Director of the company you work for, | | | | aspects of the life of its people MUST encourage her |
| before you begin to share the useful learnings about | | | | members to write - and read - as frequently as |
| how to pursue career advancement in a corporate | | | | possible(especially non-fiction). You can play a role |
| organisation, that you pick up along the way. This is | | | | today in the development of your own society, by |
| because while you are BUSY "climbing", others coming | | | | deciding to go out and acquire qualitative experiences |
| after you will be in the process of taking the decision | | | | in the pursuit of challenging, worthwhile goals, and |
| to START "climbing", and compared to you, will be | | | | then writing to share what you learn with others. |