Hello Southwest Region Leaders & Associates,

This week’s Coaching Tip comes from our Regional Tech Trainer, Jimmy Chickey, after reading Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich. The principles in that book shaped his life just as they have for generations of leaders and entrepreneurs. Hill’s core message is simple but powerful: success begins with thought—specifically, a definite purpose fueled by belief, desire and backed by consistent action.

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The Power of Desire and Faith

Two principles resonated with me early: Desire and Faith.

Hill positions Desire as the starting point of all achievement—not a vague wish, but a burning obsession backed by purpose and persistence. Faith is the emotional engine that transforms desire into belief and action. Together, they create the inner certainty required to overcome doubt and adversity.

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My Story

I’m the youngest of six children. None of my older siblings went to college. There was no example set before me and money was tight growing up. Yet from early on, I knew with absolute clarity: I am going to college.

I didn’t have faith in many things back then, but when it came to that goal, my belief was unshakable. I didn’t hope—I knew. That intense desire and deep-rooted faith drove me to work hard without anyone needing to push me. Paying for college was entirely on my shoulders, so I found scholarships, worked jobs, and figured out how to make it happen financially. As a result I graduated with two degrees.

Looking back, I realized I’d instinctively followed Hill’s principles from a young age, though I didn’t understand it at the time. Think and Grow Rich gave me language for what I had already lived. It showed me that success isn’t only about resources or background—it’s about the beliefs we hold and the clarity of our desires.

Hill’s principles aren’t abstract theories. They are tools that can shape the course of a life. They shaped mine before I even knew what they were.

— Jimmy Chickey, Regional Tech Trainer

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Coaching Tip:

Now ask yourself: What do I want so badly right now that I’m willing to make it inevitable?

Not “I hope” or “I should”—but what calls to you with that same unshakable knowing?

If you’re struggling to answer, Think and Grow Rich will help you clarify that burning desire and build the faith to achieve it. Sometimes we need Hill’s framework to recognize the power we’ve already been using unconsciously—and learn to wield it intentionally.