Napoleon Hill's "30 Major Causes of Failure"
Unfavorable hereditary background. Little if anything can be done for people who are born with a deficiency in brain power – other than to associate with highly intelligent people.
Lack of a well-defined purpose in life. There is no hope of success for the person who does not have a definite goal at which to aim.
Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity. We offer no hope for the person who is simply not willing to pay the price to get ahead in life.
Insufficient education. This is a handicap which may be overcome with relative ease. Experience has proven that the best educated people are often those who are known as self-made, or self educated.
Lack of self-discipline. Before you can control conditions, you must first control yourself. Self mastery is the hardest job you'll ever tackle.
Poor health. No person may enjoy outstanding success without good health. However, many of the causes of poor health are subject to mastery and control. These include poor diet and lack of exercise.
Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood. “As the twig is bent, so the tree shall grow.”
Procrastination. Do not wait. The time will never be just right. Start where you stand.
Lack of persistence. Most of us are good starters, but poor finishers. There is no substitute for persistence.
Negative personality. There is no hope of success for the person who repels people through a negative personality.
Lack of controlled sexual urge. Sex energy is the most powerful of all the stimuli which move people into action.
Uncontrolled desire for “something for nothing.” This gambling instinct drives millions of people to failure.
Lack of a well defined power of decision. People who fail to reach decisions will be hogtied to failure.
One or more of the six basic fears, including the fear of poverty, the fear of criticism, the fear of poor health, the fear of loss of love, the fear of old age, or the fear of death.
Wrong selection of a mate in marriage. A very common cause of failure. A poor marriage can be marked by misery, unhappiness, and destroy all signs of ambition.
Over caution. The person who takes no chances generally has to take whatever is left when others are through choosing.
Wrong selection of associates in business. We emulate those with whom we associate most closely. Pick an employer who is worth emulating.
Superstition and prejudice. Superstition is a form of fear, in addition to a form of ignorance.
Wrong selection of a vocation. No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like. Pick an occupation into which you can throw yourself wholeheartedly.
Lack of concentration of effort. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim.
The habit of indiscriminate spending. Money in the bank gives one a very safe foundation of courage.
Lack of enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm, one cannot be convincing.
Intolerance. Intolerance means that one has stopped acquiring knowledge. The most damaging forms of intolerance are those connected with religious, racial, and political differences of opinion.
Intemperance. Overindulgence is fatal to success.
Inability to cooperate with others. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life because of this fault than for all other reasons combined.
Possession of power that was not acquired through self effort. Quick riches are more dangerous than poverty.
Intentional dishonesty. There is no substitute for honesty. There is no hope for the person who is dishonest by choice. Sooner or later, his deeds will catch up with him.
Egotism and vanity. Fatal to success, both.
Guessing instead of thinking. Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire the facts required to think accurately.
Lack of capital. A common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time.
