10 Best Personal Development Books to Read

Have you had the opportunity to read the book ‘Think & Grow Rich’?

If you are a frequent visitor to Wealthy Gorilla, then you must have come across the book by now!

‘Think & Grow Rich’ was authored by Napoleon Hill and is widely regarded as one of the top self-development books of all time.

The book imparts the 13 principles for transforming your desires into riches and is packed with valuable insights that can help you elevate your life…

 

The 30 Major Causes of Failure

One of the chapters in ‘Think & Grow Rich’ lists the 30 major causes of failure, as outlined by Napoleon Hill. These factors shed light on why 99% of individuals are struggling in their lives.

The objective of highlighting and elucidating these ‘major causes of failure’ in this article is to illustrate why people fail and how you can steer clear of making the same mistakes in your own life.

Here are the 30 major causes of failure as articulated by Napoleon Hill:

 

1. Unfavourable Hereditary Background

This is listed as the foremost issue because Hill believes it is one of the most challenging obstacles for individuals to overcome.

Essentially, it signifies that someone may not possess natural intelligence or certain cognitive abilities. They can make efforts to enhance their knowledge and sharpen their intellect, but they still face a disadvantage.

 

2. Lack of a Well Defined Purpose in Life

If you lack a clear goal that you are striving to accomplish, a purpose that you are aiming to fulfill, success will elude you. Without a target to aim at, your direction remains undefined.

 

3. Lack of Ambition to Aim Above Mediocrity

There are various reasons why individuals may lack the ambition to aim above mediocrity. It could be due to laziness, comfort, entitlement, or disbelief in the concept of “success.”

If you do not aspire to reach greater heights, you will always remain at an average level. Consequently, you will never achieve more than the ordinary.

 

4. Insufficient Education

Inadequate education is another significant cause of failure. It is important to note that this does not solely refer to a lack of formal education during childhood and adolescence.

In many instances, formal education is inadequate in various regions of the world. Furthermore, many individuals complete their education and believe they have attained all the knowledge they require.

Specialized knowledge is indispensable for your career, and it can only be acquired through on-the-job experience and self-study outside of working hours. Merely showing up for work each day is not sufficient for continued learning.

 

5. Lack of Self-Discipline

Achieving success is not effortless. It demands a high level of discipline to persistently dedicate yourself to a pursuit until you begin to reap the rewards of your efforts.

Adopting productive habits is crucial to maximizing your daily productivity, and subsequently, your weekly, monthly, and yearly achievements.

 

6. Ill Health

Good health is a prerequisite for enjoying success, and poor health can impede your progress towards achieving it.

Factors contributing to ill health include:

• Lack of exercise
• Overindulging in junk food
• Unhealthy daily routines
• Excessive engagement in sexual activity

 

7. Unfavourable Environmental Influences During Childhood

Many individuals fail due to the adverse environments they were raised in, characterized by inadequate parenting, challenging neighborhoods, or being born into impoverished families.

Although these circumstances do not seal one’s fate, a majority of individuals allow these conditions to shape their future. It is essential to recognize that despite the challenges, there is always room for improvement.

 

8. Procrastination

Most people have aspirations but procrastinate when it comes to taking action. They wait for the ‘perfect’ moment or until they feel ‘prepared.’

Time passes, yet they remain stagnant. The truth is, there is never an ideal time to commence pursuing your dreams. It is imperative to overcome procrastination and instill a sense of urgency in your life.

 

9. Lack of Persistence

Without persistence, progress is unattainable. Persistence becomes challenging when the fruits of your labor are not immediately evident.

It is crucial to understand that persistence is the key to success. Every successful individual has encountered failures, but their persistence enabled them to rise above setbacks and avoid permanent failure.

 

10. Negative Personality

Individuals who habitually complain without taking action or assert that they are incapable of achieving something are examples of negative personalities.

Embracing a negative mindset invariably leads to a negative life. This is a prominent cause of failure, and altering your outlook from negative to positive should be a top priority.

 

11. Lack of Controlled Sexual Urge

Many individuals deny the impact of uncontrolled sexual desires, yet it significantly influences their actions more than any other energy source.

Chasing after these desires can consume a substantial amount of time, leading to distractions and deviating from your goals.

 

12. Uncontrolled Desire for ‘Something for Nothing’

Have you encountered individuals who seek rewards without contributing any effort?

They believe they can attain their desires without assisting others in achieving theirs. This approach is fundamentally flawed.

Success is attained by helping others, as every thriving business prospers by benefitting a significant number of individuals.

 

13. Lack of a Well Defined Power of Decision

According to Napoleon Hill, effective decision-makers promptly make decisions and are slow to alter them, as opposed to the reverse. The ability to make swift decisions is crucial for success.

If you struggle to make decisions, building a successful business will be an insurmountable challenge. Given that we make numerous decisions daily, this skill is indispensable.

 

14. One or More of the Six Basic Fears

In ‘Think & Grow Rich,’ Hill delineates the six fundamental fears that all individuals encounter in life:

1. Fear of poverty
2. Fear of criticism
3. Fear of ill health
4. Fear of loss of love
5. Fear of old age
6. Fear of death

Possessing any of these six basic fears may also contribute to failure. It is imperative to remember that death is inevitable, and therefore, there is nothing to lose. Consequently, these fears should not hinder you from living your dream life.

 

15. Wrong Selection of a Mate in Marriage

Your marital relationship can impact your career significantly. A supportive and harmonious partnership can enhance your professional performance, while constant discord can hinder your productivity at work.

It is crucial to choose your life partner wisely.

 

16. Over-Caution

To achieve substantial success, taking risks is imperative. Playing it safe will only yield limited results. Risks are often necessary, even if they do not always yield favorable outcomes initially.

Individuals who are excessively cautious and hesitant to explore uncharted territories often encounter failure.

 

17. Wrong Selection of Associates in Business

Your choice of business partners can significantly impact your chances of failure. Associating with individuals lacking essential qualities can lead to poor decision-making, jeopardizing your hard work and business outcomes.

Hence, it is essential to select your associates wisely.

 

18. Superstition & Prejudice

Superstition often hampers individuals’ mindsets. For instance, Tai Lopez occasionally offers free cars to his followers.

Many recipients of these free cars doubted the authenticity of the offer and believed it was a hoax. Consequently, those who doubted missed out on the opportunity, as Tai awarded the car to someone else.

 

19. Wrong Selection of a Vocation

A common mistake made by many is selecting the wrong career path. If a job does not consume your thoughts daily, it may not be the ideal choice for you.

Regrettably, a vast majority of individuals dread Mondays due to their dislike for their jobs. They merely endure their work to receive a paycheck. Why settle for this?

Discover something you are passionate about.

 

20. Lack of Concentration of Effort

Do you know the average human attention span?

It is relatively short. Concentrating on a task for an extended period is incredibly challenging, especially when it is something you do not enjoy.

 

21. The Habit of Indiscriminate Spending

Do you frequently purchase unnecessary items?

How much value has that new TV added to your life? None? Ponder on this before splurging on a new wardrobe.

Investing in yourself rather than squandering money is a key distinction between the affluent and the impoverished. Remember this when tempted to indulge in excessive spending.

 

22. Lack of Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is essential for achieving success in any endeavor. Without genuine passion for your work, you will struggle to persevere through challenges.

The pursuit of money alone will not lead to fulfillment. When money serves as the primary motivator, rather than genuine passion, individuals are inclined to abandon their pursuits before attaining success.

Passion drives individuals to engage in their activities daily, irrespective of their earnings or setbacks encountered.

 

23. Intolerance

A successful entrepreneur must possess an open-minded approach. Embracing new ideas, diverse perspectives, and different individuals is paramount.

Intolerance towards others and their viewpoints can tarnish your reputation, particularly when it concerns individuals you collaborate with or conduct business with.

 

24. Intemperance

Similar to intolerance, intemperance is a significant cause of failure. Individuals prone to anger often alienate others and undermine their own productivity.

 

25. Inability to Cooperate With Others

Collaboration is inevitable, as every business revolves around people. Failure to collaborate with others will severely limit your progress.

The key to achieving your goals is aiding others in achieving theirs, which requires cooperation. Refusal to collaborate will impede your progress.

 

26. Possession of Power Not Acquired Through Self-Effort

Individuals bestowed with power without earning it are destined to fail.

They lack the essential habits and skills necessary for acquiring power, as well as the experience and knowledge to wield it effectively.

Such individuals are unable to control or utilize their power efficiently and should not be entrusted with it.

 

27. Intentional Dishonesty

Whether deceiving oneself or others, dishonesty will ultimately backfire. It erodes trust, hampers collaboration, and undermines personal integrity.

 

28. Egotism & Vanity

Ego often impedes individuals from expanding their knowledge and fostering collaboration.

Many individuals are reluctant to acknowledge their fallibility or cooperate with others due to their inflated sense of self-importance.

 

29. Guessing Instead of Thinking

If you engage in guesswork without critical thinking, you are setting yourself up for failure. Forming opinions without conducting research often leads to arguments and misunderstandings.

Avoid falling into this trap and prioritize thoughtful consideration over hasty assumptions.

 

30. Lack of Capital

Lack of capital ranks as the 30th major cause of failure. Financial constraints often hinder individuals with dreams and ideas, particularly in launching their desired business ventures.

However, with a well-crafted business plan, securing investors or