Meet Wallace Wattles
Wallace D. Wattles was a pioneering self-help author whose ideas on wealth and success have impacted the business world. Despite facing numerous challenges in his own life, Wattles remained committed to his vision of a world where anyone could achieve success by applying a specific set of principles and actions.
Today, his book "The Science of Getting Rich" continues to inspire readers worldwide, and it's in the public domain.
Born in 1860, Wattles was raised on a farm in Illinois and later moved to Chicago to pursue a career in writing. Despite struggling to make a living as a writer, he remained committed to his passion for self-improvement and success.
Wattles was particularly interested in the idea that wealth is not a matter of luck but rather a science that can be learned and practiced.
In 1910, Wattles published "The Science of Getting Rich," quickly becoming a best-seller. The book provides practical advice on becoming wealthy based on the principles of positive thinking, gratitude, goal setting, and taking action.
Unfortunately, Wattles' success was short-lived. He died in 1911, just a year after publishing his most famous work. However, his legacy lives on, and "The Science of Getting Rich" remains a timeless classic that has inspired generations of readers.
Key Lessons from The Science of Getting Rich
"The Science of Getting Rich" provides practical advice for anyone who wants to become wealthy. The book is based on the idea that wealth is a science that can be learned and practiced and that anyone can achieve wealth if they are willing to take action and adopt a positive attitude towards money.
Here are some of the key lessons from the book:
Think positively about money and wealth. Wattles emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude toward money and wealth. He argues that if one believes that money is evil, one will never be able to become rich.
Be grateful. The book encourages us to be thankful for what we have to attract more wealth. Wattles stresses the importance of gratitude in attracting more abundance.
Set clear goals. Wattles encourages us to set clear goals and consistently act toward achieving them. He suggests that we should clearly understand what we want to achieve.
Take action. It is not enough to think about becoming rich; we must take action to make it happen. Wattles emphasizes the importance of taking consistent action toward achieving our goals.
Be creative and innovative. The book also discusses the importance of creativity and innovation in creating wealth. Wattles argues that to become rich, we must provide value to others uniquely and innovatively.
Focus on providing value to others. Wattles suggests that one should focus on creating value for others and that wealth will naturally flow back to us. He emphasizes that wealth is not a zero-sum game and that wealth is abundant in the world.
Develop a positive mindset. Finally, the book teaches that having a positive mindset is essential for creating wealth. Wattles argues that one should focus on abundance rather than scarcity and that by doing so, one will attract more wealth into their life.
Think and Grow Rich
Wattle's lessons are timeless and align with other early prosperity thinkers and writers. "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill is a self-help book published in 1937 that provides a step-by-step guide to achieving wealth and success.
The ideas presented in the book were not new then but were part of a long tradition of prosperity thinking and writing in America that dates back to the mid-19th century.
The prosperity movement, characterized by a belief in the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction, gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hill was a product of this movement and interviewed hundreds of successful people for his books, culminating in the publication of "Think and Grow Rich." Since then, many other writers and thinkers have continued the tradition of prosperity thinking in America.
Overall, "The Science of Getting Rich" is a timeless classic that provides practical advice for anyone who wants to become wealthy. Its principles have inspired many successful entrepreneurs and business leaders and remain relevant today.