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The 54 Major Causes of Failure by Napoleon Hill
1) The habit of drifting with circumstances, without definite aims or purposes.
2) Unfavorable physical heredity at birth.
3) Meddlesome curiosity in connection with other people’s affairs.
4) Lack of a Definite Major Purpose as a life goal
5) Inadequate schooling.
6) Lack of self-discipline, which generally manifests itself through excesses in eating, drinking and sex indulgence, and indifference toward opportunities for self advancement.
7) Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity.
8) Ill health, generally due to wrong thinking, improper diet, and lack of physical exercise. (Keep in mind, however, that some people, such as Helen Kelley, have made themselves of great service to others despite incurable ailments.)
9) Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood. It has been said that the major fundamentals of character have been well formed in the individual by the time he is seven years of age.
10) Lack of persistence in carrying through to a finish that which one starts.
11) A negative mental attitude as a fixation of habit.
12) Lack of control over the emotions of the heart.
13) Desire for something for nothing, usually expressed in the habit of gambling.
14) Failure to reach decisions promptly and definitely and to stand by them after they have been made.
15) One or more of the seven basic fears.
i. Fear of Poverty
ii. Fear of Criticism
iii. Fear of Ill Heath or Physical Pain
iv. Fear of Loss of Love
v. Fear of Loss of Liberty
vi. Fear of Old Age
vii. Fear of Death
16) Wrong selection of a mate in marriage.
17) Over-caution in business and professional relationships.
18) Lack of all forms of caution.
19) Wrong choice of associates in business or professional pursuits.
20) Wrong selection of a vocation, or total neglect to make a choice.
21) Lack of concentration of effort on the task at hand at a given time.
22) Habit of indiscriminate spending, without a budget control over income and expenditures.
23) Failure to budget and use TIME to best advantage.
24) Lack of controlled enthusiasm.
25) Intolerance-a closed mind based particularly on ignorance or prejudice in connection with religious, political, and economic subjects.
26) Failure to cooperate with others in a spirit of harmony.
27) The possession of power or wealth not based on merit or not earned.
28) Lack of the spirit of loyalty to those to whom loyalty is due.
29) Egotism and vanity not under control.
30) Habit of forming opinions and building plans with out basing them on first-hand knowledge of the necessary facts.
31) Lack of vision and imagination sufficient to recognize favorable opportunities.
32) Unwillingness to go the extra mile in rendering service.
33) The desire for revenge for real or imaginary injuries by others.
34) The habit of conversing in terms of vulgarity or profanity.
35) The habit of indulging in negative gossip about the affairs of other people.
36) Unsocial attitude toward one’s constituted authorities of government.
37) Unbelief in the existence of Infinite Intelligence.
38) Lack of knowledge of how to engage in prayer so as to bring positive results.
39) Failure to benefit by the counsel of others whose experience one often needs.
40) Carelessness in payment of personal debts.
41) The habit of lying or unduly modifying the truth.
42) The habit of offering criticism where it has not been invited.
43) Over-extension in connection with the incurring of indebtedness.
44) Greed for material possessions one does not need.
45) Lack of self-confidence of adequate proportions for the fulfillment of one’s chosen objectives.
46) Alcoholism or narcotics.
47) Over-indulgence in smoking, especially the chain smoking cigarette habit.
48) The habit (of laymen) of serving as their own lawyers in connection with contracts and legal matters.
49) The habit of endorsing other people’s notes when the risk is not justified.
50) The habit of procrastination-putting off until to morrow that which should have been attended to day before yesterday.
51) The habit of running away from unpleasant circumstances instead of mastering them.
52) The habit of talking too much and listening too little. One never learns anything while talking, but always is in the way of learning by listening when others talk.
53) The habit of accepting favors from others without reciprocating.
54) Intentional dishonesty in business and professional relations.
Check yourself carefully by these fifty-four causes of failure, and should the self-examination reveal that you can check O.K. after each of the causes; it is not likely you will ever be overcome by failure.
After you make your own rating, however, it may be both interesting and helpful if you will have some other person rate you on each of these causes of failure someone who knows you quite well and has the courage to let you look at yourself through his or her eyes.
1) The habit of drifting with circumstances, without definite aims or purposes.
2) Unfavorable physical heredity at birth.
3) Meddlesome curiosity in connection with other people’s affairs.
4) Lack of a Definite Major Purpose as a life goal
5) Inadequate schooling.
6) Lack of self-discipline, which generally manifests itself through excesses in eating, drinking and sex indulgence, and indifference toward opportunities for self advancement.
7) Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity.
8) Ill health, generally due to wrong thinking, improper diet, and lack of physical exercise. (Keep in mind, however, that some people, such as Helen Kelley, have made themselves of great service to others despite incurable ailments.)
9) Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood. It has been said that the major fundamentals of character have been well formed in the individual by the time he is seven years of age.
10) Lack of persistence in carrying through to a finish that which one starts.
11) A negative mental attitude as a fixation of habit.
12) Lack of control over the emotions of the heart.
13) Desire for something for nothing, usually expressed in the habit of gambling.
14) Failure to reach decisions promptly and definitely and to stand by them after they have been made.
15) One or more of the seven basic fears.
i. Fear of Poverty
ii. Fear of Criticism
iii. Fear of Ill Heath or Physical Pain
iv. Fear of Loss of Love
v. Fear of Loss of Liberty
vi. Fear of Old Age
vii. Fear of Death
16) Wrong selection of a mate in marriage.
17) Over-caution in business and professional relationships.
18) Lack of all forms of caution.
19) Wrong choice of associates in business or professional pursuits.
20) Wrong selection of a vocation, or total neglect to make a choice.
21) Lack of concentration of effort on the task at hand at a given time.
22) Habit of indiscriminate spending, without a budget control over income and expenditures.
23) Failure to budget and use TIME to best advantage.
24) Lack of controlled enthusiasm.
25) Intolerance-a closed mind based particularly on ignorance or prejudice in connection with religious, political, and economic subjects.
26) Failure to cooperate with others in a spirit of harmony.
27) The possession of power or wealth not based on merit or not earned.
28) Lack of the spirit of loyalty to those to whom loyalty is due.
29) Egotism and vanity not under control.
30) Habit of forming opinions and building plans with out basing them on first-hand knowledge of the necessary facts.
31) Lack of vision and imagination sufficient to recognize favorable opportunities.
32) Unwillingness to go the extra mile in rendering service.
33) The desire for revenge for real or imaginary injuries by others.
34) The habit of conversing in terms of vulgarity or profanity.
35) The habit of indulging in negative gossip about the affairs of other people.
36) Unsocial attitude toward one’s constituted authorities of government.
37) Unbelief in the existence of Infinite Intelligence.
38) Lack of knowledge of how to engage in prayer so as to bring positive results.
39) Failure to benefit by the counsel of others whose experience one often needs.
40) Carelessness in payment of personal debts.
41) The habit of lying or unduly modifying the truth.
42) The habit of offering criticism where it has not been invited.
43) Over-extension in connection with the incurring of indebtedness.
44) Greed for material possessions one does not need.
45) Lack of self-confidence of adequate proportions for the fulfillment of one’s chosen objectives.
46) Alcoholism or narcotics.
47) Over-indulgence in smoking, especially the chain smoking cigarette habit.
48) The habit (of laymen) of serving as their own lawyers in connection with contracts and legal matters.
49) The habit of endorsing other people’s notes when the risk is not justified.
50) The habit of procrastination-putting off until to morrow that which should have been attended to day before yesterday.
51) The habit of running away from unpleasant circumstances instead of mastering them.
52) The habit of talking too much and listening too little. One never learns anything while talking, but always is in the way of learning by listening when others talk.
53) The habit of accepting favors from others without reciprocating.
54) Intentional dishonesty in business and professional relations.
Check yourself carefully by these fifty-four causes of failure, and should the self-examination reveal that you can check O.K. after each of the causes; it is not likely you will ever be overcome by failure.
After you make your own rating, however, it may be both interesting and helpful if you will have some other person rate you on each of these causes of failure someone who knows you quite well and has the courage to let you look at yourself through his or her eyes.
Guide created: 09/30/06 (updated 04/01/08)
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