Power Affirmations
Believe in the Creative Power of Your Own Mind

Rare 5 Minute Recording of Andrew Carnegie

Here is your opportunity to listen to the actual voice of the man who inspired Napoleon Hill to organize his philosophy of personal achievement--including the classic "Think and Grow Rich."

Click here to listen the MP3 file (the file size is 4 megs).  Or you can right click on the link to save the file to listen to it later. 

Keep in mind that this recording was made in 1914--and it sounds like an old recording.  But you should be able to understand him clearly if you listen closely.  I've included the full text below in case you need to refer to it.

 

About the Recording...

Andrew Carnegie died in 1919.  In his lifetime, he gave away $350 million.  That's still a lot of money, but back in the early 1900's, that's really a lot of money.  In 1889, he published an essay called "The Gospel of Wealth" in which he outlined his belief that wealthy people have an obligation to use the same skills they used to accumulate their wealth to give it away before they die in a way that does no harm to the recipient.

While doing some research on Carnegie, I came across a rare recording of him reading from "The Gospel of Wealth."  The recording was made in 1914.  There's a lot of hiss in the recording, but Carnegie's voice is generally understandable.  It's interesting to here his Scottish brogue.  The size of the MP3 file is about 4 meg.

Here are a few points about accumulating wealth that I've learned from Mr. Carnegie:

  1. There are certain skills involved in creating large amounts of wealth.  While they start with being able to develop a clear, specific Definite Major Purpose in life, you also have to make investments and learn how to create organizations of people (e.g., companies) that add value to a large number of people at a profit.  Some of the skills are covered in "Think and Grow Rich," others are not.

  2. The exact same skills that are used to accumulate wealth are needed to give it away in such a manner that it benefits the greatest number of people.

  3. You should give away the money while you are still alive.  Because of the skills involved, you must have some oversight of the administration of your gifts so that they help people rather than hurt them.

After reading "The Gospel of Wealth" a few years ago, I wrote the following Power Affirmation for myself:

I have a responsibility to accumulate vast sums of wealth, through useful service to others and to give it back to society through gifts that benefit the entire community.

 

I'd like to think that Mr. Carnegie would approve of this Power Affirmation.  Click here to listen the MP3 file.  Or you can right click on the link to save the file to listen to it later.

Here is the text of the Recording

Quote from "The Gospel of Wealth" by Andrew Carnegie

I quote from the Gospel of Wealth published twenty-five years ago. This then is held to be the duty of the man of wealth. First: to set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him, and after doing so, to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is strictly bound as a matter of duty, to administer in the manner which in his judgment is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community.

The man of wealth must become a trustee and agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer. Those who would administer wisely must indeed be wise. For one of the serious obstacles to the improvement of our race is indiscriminate charity. It were better for mankind that the millions of the rich were thrown into the sea than so spent as to encourage the slothful, the drunken, the unworthy.

In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who help themselves. It provides part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give to those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist but rarely or never to do all.

He is the only true reformer who is careful and as anxious not to lead the unworthy as he is to lead the worthy, and perhaps even more so, for in alms giving, more injury may be done by promoting vice than by relieving virtue. Thus, is the problem of the rich and poor to be solved.

The laws of accumulation should be left free; the laws of distribution free. Individualism will continue. But the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; entrusted for a season with a part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it for the community far better than it did, or would have done, of itself. The best in minds will thus have reached a stage in the development of the race in which it is clearly seen that there is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year-by-year for the general good. This day already dawns.

Men may die without incurring the pity of their fellows, sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital cannot be, or has not been withdrawn, upon which is left entirely a trust for public uses.

Yet the day is not far distant when the man who dies, leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was free for him to administer during life, will pass away “unwept, unhonored, and unsung,” no matter to what use he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these, the public verdict will then be: the man who dies thus rich, dies disgraced. Such in my opinion is the true gospel concerning wealth, obedience to which is destined someday to solve the problems of the rich and the poor, to hasten the coming brotherhood of man, and at last to make our earth a heaven.

 

From Napoleon Hill's "Law of Success"

Napoleon Hill's "Law of Success" was published earlier than "Think and Grow Rich" and is a much larger work.  It was originally a correspondence course.  There are currently a few different versions of In many ways, "Think and Grow Rich" was essentially a reworking of the same material into a smaller volume.  For this reason, studying "Law of Success" is also helpful because there are a few things that Dr. Hill goes into in greater detail.

Here are a few short quotes from the chapter on Self-Confidence from the "Law of Success" regarding auto-suggestion and the power of repetition that I think are stronger than what he wrote in "Think and Grow Rich."

"Habit is created by repeatedly directing one or more of the five senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling in a given direction."

Note here that he clearly explains that the law of auto-suggestion includes conscious repetition of action using any of the five senses--not just repeating phrases.  When you are using recorded Power Affirmations, you are employing the sense of hearing (an "external representation" since you physically hear the sound) as well as "internal representations" of the other senses.  By "internal representations," I mean that by guiding your imagination so you can "see" images in your mind, or "hear" certain sounds, "feel" certain feelings, etc. 

We all do this to some degree--that's part of our human nature.  It's how we think.  Most people do not consciously direct their internal representations (in other words, their thoughts) and, without realizing it, allow those thoughts to be negative rather than positive. 

This is where Power Affirmation recordings can help.  Because they exist outside of yourself, they are not subject to change.  They are always positive.  They are a tool you can use to train your mind through habit to consistently think positive.  To consistently follow the principles of success.  They allow you to recognize negative thoughts when they pop into your mind--and to consciously replace them with positive thoughts.

Here's another quote:

"After a habit has been well established, it will automatically control and direct our bodily activity..."

This happens because the thought habits become a part of your subconscious mind.

"Voluntarily, and by force if necessary, direct your efforts and your thoughts along a desired line until you have formed the habit that will lay hold of you and continue, voluntarily, to direct your efforts along the same line."  

This is an interesting point, "by force if necessary."  When first developing any positive habit, it is often necessary by forcing yourself to do something you may not want to do at first--like saving money, or exercising regularly, or always thinking positive. 

How do we "force" ourselves?  Through self-discipline and repetition of thought and action using our conscious mind.  People who are successful often find that they have to first  consciously force themselves to take a positive action through desire and determination until it becomes a positive habit that they actually enjoy.  Then what used to be hard, becomes easy and pleasant--in many cases--even automatic.

This is where Power Affirmation recordings can help.  They are easy to use, positive, and make great use of the of repetition to build thought habits.  As you listen to the recordings regularly and meditate on those thoughts, you will find that the thoughts continue with you throughout the day.  Also, you will find that they are readily available to you when you need them.  That's because you have mentally prepared yourself and rehearsed the results you want in advance. 

So, if you want help conditioning your subconscious mind for success, I encourage you to consider ordering the 200 Power Affirmations recordings for sale here at http://www.poweraffirmations.com.  Each Power Affirmation is a separate MP3 file to give you maximum flexibility for listening.  You can listen using an MP3 player like the iPod, listen on your computer, or burn them to a CD. 

Because I am distributing these files as MP3s, you can literally start downloading them within minutes of placing your order.  And because I've eliminated the need for physical materials and shipping costs, I am passing the savings on to you (unlike most internet marketers who still charge a premium for their products).

There are six categories of Power Affirmations that last about 30-40 minutes each.  You can order any of the categories for only $4 or you can order all six for a total of $14 (a savings of $10). 

Click here to learn more about the recordings and listen to free samples.