the irresistible pair

In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill explains that persistence is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting desire into its monetary equivalent, and the basis of this persistence is the power of will. 

In my attempt to further elaborate and clarify this insight, I’d like to suggest that you read “the power of will” as “the power of your Why.”

If you want your dreams to come true, then it’s incredibly important that you deeply connect with the Why behind them. The motivation that we may get from other people will be short-lived, but if you cultivate and nurture it inside you on a daily or consistent basis, it will power you and help you in building self-reliance as you perform the necessary actions. 

Focus is a superpower in today’s times and a clear Why is essential for maintaining it. In simple words, our Why becomes the foundation on which we will build our lives.

Your willpower will take you only so far when it comes to installing and sustaining new behaviors and habits, but your Why will propel you and keep you on track, especially during times of darkness and disappointment when you struggle to be disciplined. As Darren Hardy writes in his book The Compound Effect: “Forget about willpower. It’s time for why-power. Your choices are only meaningful when you connect them to your desires and dreams. The wisest and most motivating choices are the ones aligned with that which you identify as your purpose, your core self, and your highest values. You’ve got to want something, and know why you want it, or you’ll end up giving up too easily.” 

The sturdiness of the Why inside you will determine your success. It will give you the courage to brave any storms and obstacles that come your way and tune them out so that you only see solutions and opportunities in front of you. 

So, with utmost respect, I’d like to tweak Napoleon Hill’s words a little in order to craft a clearer and more effective insight for all of us:

“Why-power and desire, when properly combined, make an irresistible pair. Men who accumulate great fortunes are generally known as cold-blooded, and sometimes ruthless. Often they are misunderstood. What they have is why-power, which they mix with persistence, and place back of their desires to insure the attainment of their objectives.”