Think and Grow Rich - Edwin C. Barnes

Some people think Edwin C. Barnes was a figment of Napoleon Hill's imagination. We can't find much on this fellow who takes up much of the first pages of the classic, "Think and Grow Rich". Did he really exist?

Hill starts out this first chapter by saying Barnes "thought" his way into a partnership with the great Edison. Thought - I know a lot of people - mainly Christians - get hung up on The Secret, because it all seems like we just rub a magic lamp and "your wish is my command."

On Oprah, I enjoyed James Arthur Ray's explanation of The Secret when he stated that we can't just summon up whatever we desire and do nothing. We gotta act. I think the believe part is putting feet to thoughts.

But Hill claims Barnes wasn't in a position to get what he desired no matter how hard he "thought" it. And here, for the first time, Hill tells us there are 13 principles that lead to riches. Okay, so we know the are 13. Kevin and I will track them as we go along.

So, Barnes needed to translate his desire into his actually becoming an associate of Thomas Alva Edison. Now what does translate mean? How did Barnes "think" into existence a train ticket to Orange, New Jersey - Edison's place of business? And why would Edison even give this poor fellow the time of day?

Let's take a look at that in our next post. Join us next time when we find out if Edison told Barnes to go back to the farm, or if Edwin even made it to the train station.