Những SỰ THẬT ÍT AI BIẾT về cuộc đời và sự nghiệp NAPOLEON HILL | Golden Nguyen

Summary of Napoleon Hill's Life and Career

Key Concepts:

• Thành Công học (Successology): The modern literary genre founded by Napoleon Hill, focusing on principles of success.
• Bán phá giá (Price dumping): Selling goods at an extremely low price, often below market value.
• Bán hàng đa cấp (Multi-level marketing): A marketing strategy where participants earn income from their own sales and the sales of their recruits.
• New Thought (Tư duy mới): A philosophical movement emphasizing the power of thought to influence the material world.
• Self-help (Sa hấp): A genre of literature and resources focused on personal improvement and success.

1. Early Successes and Controversies:

• 1898: At 15, Oliver Napoleon Hill (later known as Napoleon Hill) experiences his first "success" by resolving a situation involving a pregnant girl, leading to a marriage.
• 1908: Hill Lumber Company: Hill starts a lumber company in Alabama, employing a "bán phá giá" strategy. He buys lumber on credit from various sources, promising future payment, and sells it cheaply for cash in Alabama.
• Hill's Disappearance: In September 1908, Hill disappears, leaving behind $20,000 in unpaid debts to lumber suppliers across the US. News reports from the time document the concerns of his creditors.
• Relocation to Washington D.C.: By December 1908, Hill resurfaces in Washington D.C., ready to start new ventures under the name Napoleon Hill.

2. The Andrew Carnegie Myth:

• Hill's Account: Hill claims to have met Andrew Carnegie in 1908, who tasked him with interviewing successful individuals like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to uncover their success secrets. He states that Carnegie offered no financial support for this 20-year endeavor.
• Historical Discrepancies: David Nasaw, Carnegie's biographer, finds no evidence of this meeting or Hill's interviews with Carnegie. All information about this encounter originates solely from Hill's recollections.

3. Automobile College of Washington:

• Establishment: Hill establishes the Automobile College of Washington in D.C., promising to teach anyone to assemble cars in six weeks and secure them jobs paying $75-$200 per week.
• Business Model: The college serves as a source of cheap labor for Carter Moto, a partner company. Students pay tuition to work for free assembling cars.
• Closure and Shift: Carter Moto goes bankrupt in 1912. Hill pivots the college to teaching students how to sell cars on commission, promising $400 per sale and a potential income of $4,800+ per year. He also introduces a referral bonus, resembling a "bán hàng đa cấp" scheme. The college closes in 1912.

4. George Washington Institute and Legal Troubles:

• Establishment: In 1915, Hill opens the George Washington Institute in Chicago, teaching principles of success and self-confidence.
• Political Advocacy: Hill encourages students to write letters to newspapers supporting his potential run for Congress.
• FBI Involvement: When students criticize the course, Hill reports a German student to the FBI for "suspicious activities," leading to the student's arrest during World War I.
• Financial Scheme: Hill values the school at $100,000 and sells shares to students at $10 each. The Illinois government investigates and finds the school's actual value to be around $1,200.
• Loan Scheme: Hill creates the First National Trust Association to lend students money at 5% interest to pay for tuition, effectively cycling money back into his own pockets.
• Arrest Warrant: In June 1918, Illinois authorities issue an arrest warrant for Hill on fraud charges, but he evades prosecution.

5. Encounters with President Woodrow Wilson:

• Hill's Account: Hill claims to have been a consultant for President Woodrow Wilson, declining a salary out of patriotic duty. He also claims to have been present during the drafting of Germany's surrender plan.
• Lack of Evidence: No records exist to corroborate Hill's claims of advising Wilson. These memories only surface after Wilson's death.

6. Hills Golden Rule Magazine and Fraud Allegations:

• Establishment: Hill founds Hills Golden Rule magazine to attract investors for the General Oil company owned by the Coxes.
• Misleading Information: The magazine publishes enticing but misleading information about General Oil's potential.
• FTC Investigation: In October 1919, the Federal Trade Commission accuses Hill of deceptive advertising and using false information for personal gain.

7. Intrawall Correspondence School:

• Establishment: In 1922, Hill establishes the Intrawall Correspondence School to educate and rehabilitate prisoners in Ohio.
• Fundraising: The school relies on charitable donations in exchange for Hill's magazine.
• Misappropriation of Funds: The school is a front for fundraising, with no money reaching the prisoners. The Mfield News reports that donations never reached prison officials. The school closes, and Hill blames the manager, Stroke, who is arrested.

8. The Edison Photograph:

• Hill's Strategy: Hill arranges to have a photograph taken with Thomas Edison by presenting Edison with a medal at a conference.
• Hill's Description: Hill describes the photo as featuring two self-made men who achieved great success.

9. The Burning of Records:

• Explanation for Missing Evidence: According to Hill's official biography, all his papers, photos, and memorabilia, including letters from President Wilson and photos with Alexander Graham Bell, were destroyed in a fire in the 1920s.

10. Law of Success and the New Thought Movement:

• Shift in Focus: Around 1928, Hill begins to explore the New Thought movement, which emphasizes the power of thought to influence the material world.
• Law of Success: Hill writes "Law of Success," which sells reasonably well by connecting his ideas to successful figures like Edison and Graham Bell.

11. Franklin D. Roosevelt and "Think and Grow Rich":

• Hill's Account: Hill claims to have helped Roosevelt write the famous line "Nothing to fear but fear itself."
• Lack of Evidence: There is no evidence to support Hill's claim of advising Roosevelt.
• Marriage to Rosalie Ben: In 1936, Hill marries Rosalie Ben, who helps him write and edit "Think and Grow Rich."
• Success of "Think and Grow Rich": Published in 1937, "Think and Grow Rich" becomes a success, offering hope during the Great Depression.
• Legal Maneuvering: Hill transfers the copyright of the book to his wife to protect himself from creditors and prevent his ex-wife and children from claiming royalties.
• Divorce from Rosalie Ben: In 1940, Rosalie Ben divorces Hill after selling family assets and accuses him of infidelity.

12. Later Years and Controversial Statements:

• Later Marriages and Publications: Hill remarries and publishes "Man's Dynamite" in 1941.
• Political Views: In 1952, Hill expresses hawkish views on the Korean War, advocating for nuclear strikes against Russia.
• Success Unlimited: Hill collaborates with Clemon Stone to create Success Unlimited magazine.
• Exaggerated Claims: In 1962, Hill claims to have been a millionaire at 21, encouraging black students to overcome racial barriers.

13. Conclusion:

• The article aims to reveal the historical truths about Napoleon Hill's life, which are often omitted by those in the self-help industry.
• The effectiveness of Hill's methods is not disputed, but the article encourages readers to be aware of the full context of his life and career.