Napoleon Hill's "one definite purpose"

[smallstar]

Cheers,

I'm currently reading Napoleon Hill quotes, the term "one definite purpose" seems to be popping up over and over again. It sounds grand that you should have a purpose and sacrifice anything for it - but wait a second - this "anything" includes your friends, your family, your health, your nightly sleep, your sanity, your life and your soul.

"The jack-of-all-trades seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim."

This just seems plain ridiculous to me. Why should you have exactly one purpose to suck you dry? Why not 2-3 with purposes with equal priorities, why not 10-20 purposes with different priorities? Why can't you have a "balanced life, strong on all areas but emphasizing X and Y" as your purpose? Why can't your purpose be life itself?

[Dave Kaminski]

This can be easily done, IMHO.

I have one - it's a core value. Jesus has one too: "Treat others as you would like to be treated"

You don't have to focus your core goal ridiculously, just make sure it fits you.

Mine isn't exactly set in stone in terms of wording, but it makes sure my actions 90% of the time are helpful in making the lives of others happier and healthier. I must admit i still allow myself 10% destructive time!

[dor]

Originally Posted by smallstar

Cheers,

I'm currently reading Napoleon Hill quotes, the term "one definite purpose" seems to be popping up over and over again. It sounds grand that you should have a purpose and sacrifice anything for it - but wait a second - this "anything" includes your friends, your family, your health, your nightly sleep, your sanity, your life and your soul.

"The jack-of-all-trades seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim."

This just seems plain ridiculous to me. Why should you have exactly one purpose to suck you dry? Why not 2-3 with purposes with equal priorities, why not 10-20 purposes with different priorities? Why can't you have a "balanced life, strong on all areas but emphasizing X and Y" as your purpose? Why can't your purpose be life itself?

well in modern language, perhaps its a 'mission statement'...but i think he was referring to people who just drifted from one thing to another, never really committing - or people who just 'fall into' their careers.

granted things have changed a lot since he wrote that - people now not only change jobs more than in his day , but they change careers .....

Lets look at an example: walt disney, -
walt had one chief aim - it first came into being because he focused on making great cartoons - if he didn't focus on that he never would have pushed animation to the points that he did (and people forget he was adored as avant garde in his day because he was a great inovator)
eventually he expanded to live action films and reality itself (theme parks ect)

now what if walt just came to hollywood, tried stunt man one week, acting the next, editing the next...

now granted its good to explore and try different paths if you're not sure and sometimes one path can take you in a direction you didn't expect, but the gist is, focus.

[judge45]

I think NH is referring to when you desire something, you focus hard on that one thing.

I don't think he means forsaking everything else, he just means be focused on the thing you desire the most.

To bring something into your reality, you have to be very determined, but at the same time don't neglect the rest of your life.

HTH

Jeff

[Taking Action]

I Agree Jeff, very much like Walt Disney's purpose, it is an inner self consuming goal. All other things in your life should be part of achieving that goal or purpose. As for forsaking all else, only if other things in your life will take your further away, would you forsake them.

In all actions, as Wallace Wattles said, in all decisions, ask if it will 1) move you closer to your goal and 2) be in anyway harmful to anyone.

[Antiventurecapital]

Originally Posted by smallstar

Cheers,

I'm currently reading Napoleon Hill quotes, the term "one definite purpose" seems to be popping up over and over again. It sounds grand that you should have a purpose and sacrifice anything for it - but wait a second - this "anything" includes your friends, your family, your health, your nightly sleep, your sanity, your life and your soul.

"The jack-of-all-trades seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim."

This just seems plain ridiculous to me. Why should you have exactly one purpose to suck you dry? Why not 2-3 with purposes with equal priorities, why not 10-20 purposes with different priorities? Why can't you have a "balanced life, strong on all areas but emphasizing X and Y" as your purpose? Why can't your purpose be life itself?

How on earth could your purpose "suck you dry"? Your purpose is something that energizes you. It's the path you are here to follow.

[Liara Covert]

Hi smallstar.
A purpose can be one thing or many things. The posts here offer varied ideas worth considering.

For some people, such as Australian Aboriginals and different Native Indians, purpose is indeed grounded in life itself. Their existence gains meaning though sharing and maintaining cultural practices and traditions. You could also make connections to penguins, birds and animals, whose primary purpose is linked to finding a mate, procreating and surviving.

You mention Napoleon Hill who relates purpose to "money conscious" and "poverty conscious" people. He believes you can realize your purpose 'step-by-step' through will-power and persistence. His ideas of achievement evolve based on how we receive material compensation as well as "the knowledge that every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage."