Riches are Like an Old-Fashioned Maiden

Written by Toña Morales-Calkins on Jan 16, 2009 1:37 pm

Read More: Discipline | Mindset | Personal Development

I've been reading Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich with my mastermind group. Last night, I was rereading a chapter, and really got into the metaphor that I put into the title of this post.

Hill says that Poverty is brash and bold. It comes in uninvited and stays as long as you don't kick it out. But, Wealth must be courted and wooed, like an old-fashioned maiden. Wealth must be convinced to come and live with you. You must woo her with power born of Faith, Desire and Action. You must be Persistent in your pursuit of her.

Think of the last time you were in love with someone. You desired the other person. You ignored everyone else, even those who were wooing you. And you kept thinking of ways to gain favor with that person - doing what s/he liked to do, pursuing his/her interests, getting to know his/her friends, dressing to attract that person. You never seriously considered that s/he might reject you, either, so you kept on trying.

In other words, you combined Desire + Faith + Action + Persistence. Just as you must do in pursuit of Wealth. Let her know you know how to treat a lady of her caliber. Give her a vision of the life you can offer her. Show her that she belongs with you. And never falter in your belief that eventually, you will win her.

You will, you know. I believe in you.