Dear Napoleon by Jim Stovall

Several times each year for the last quarter of a century, I’ve experienced the privilege of having one of my books released. This experience is much like graduating from school. You do a lot of work over a long period of time that culminates in one brief moment when someone hands you a diploma signaling that one process has ended and a new, more significant process is beginning. This new beginning is why graduation is called a commencement.

My latest book is entitled Dear Napoleon and deals with the ongoing legacy of the author and thought leader, Napoleon Hill. Hill was born in the 19th century, wrote his monumental book, Think and Grow Rich, in the 20th century, and continues to change lives in the 21st century.

There have been many success-oriented, motivational books throughout the ensuing years. Each of these authors, including me, owes a great debt of gratitude to Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich was not simply Napoleon Hill’s opinions or even based on his own experiences.

As a young man, he was assigned the task of interviewing Andrew Carnegie, the founder of U.S. Steel and one of the richest men in the world at that time. Hill asked the question that most of us would ask if given the opportunity, “How do you become rich?” Carnegie explained that no one had ever quantified or documented the science of success, but he challenged Napoleon Hill to dedicate the next 20 years of his life to becoming the person who would bring this valuable information to the world. Hill accepted Andrew Carnegie’s challenge, and Carnegie introduced him to Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and hundreds of the most successful leaders of that era. Think and Grow Rich was the result of all of the real-life experiences of those hundreds of thought leaders.

In my book, Dear Napoleon, successful people of the 21st century share their experiences with Dr. Hill’s powerful message in the form of a letter written to Napoleon Hill. It is my fervent hope that this new book will introduce or re-introduce people around the world to the work of Napoleon Hill. I further hope this book will encourage everyone who reads it to thank those people in their own lives who have provided them with wisdom and encouragement.

As the great English poet John Donne proclaimed, “No one is an island.” All of us owe our success to many people, particularly those who have provided the means and the method for our success.

As you go through your day today, dip into the wisdom we have received from those who have gone before us.

Today’s the day!