NAPOLEON HILL

A goal is a dream with a deadline.

Napoleon Hill was one of the original founders of the personal-success literature movement and the author of the best-selling book Think and Grow Rich. Hill considered all his works part of his "Philosophy of Achievement" and his mantra, "what the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve" became the foundation for his works. Napoleon Hill was born on October 26, 1883 in the rural town of Pound in Wise County, Virginia. By the age of twelve, both his parents were dead and by the time Hill was thirteen he was writing for local mountain newspapers to help save money for school. Although he entered law school for a short time, Hill eventually had to drop out due to lack of funds. Hill returned to writing and, as part of a series of articles assigned to him, he went to interview Andrew Carnegie, a very wealthy and powerful man. During the interview, Carnegie disclosed his belief that any man could achieve great success by following a simple formula. Carnegie then commissioned Hill to interview 500 successful people in order to discover this formula and publish it. There was no money paid to Hill for this project, just the challenge of finding the secret to success. During his research, Hill interviewed numerous influential people including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. It took him over twenty years to interview all of the people on his list. As a result of his research, however, Hill became an advisor to Carnegie and they published The Law of Success by means of the Philosophy of Achievement in 1928. Originally published as a study course, it eventually became a lengthy home-study course that included seventeen volumes of the "Mental Dynamite" series. During his time with Carnegie, Napoleon Hill became the editor and publisher of the Hill's Golden Rule magazine, published a book called The Ladder to Success and also served as an unpaid advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt from 1933 to 1936. In 1937 Hill broke down the basics of the Philosophy of Achievement and published his work in the book Think and Grow Rich. This became Hill's most famous work and has sold over 30 million copies. Two years later, in 1939, Hill published How to Sell Your Way through Life, another best-selling book on personal achievement. By 1953 Napoleon Hill was working closely with W. Clement Stone teaching Stone's own "Philosophy of Personal Achievement". Hill began focusing more on the idea that "thoughts are things" and that an individual can manifest his or her success simply by sharing ideas and finding like-minded individuals. Hill also wrote about the importance of the "Golden Rule" of giving and the understanding the difference between giving and exchanging with the community. Throughout his life, Hill was open about his Christian faith and believed that his religion played a very important supporting role in his beliefs about success. Faith, in fact, always played a major role in Hill's philosophies of achievement. Napoleon Hill died on November 8, 1970. His last book, You Can Work Your Own Miracles, was published after his death.

MARGARET THATCHER

It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.

Elected as the first woman prime minister in all of Europe, Margaret Thatcher held office for a record 11 years, from 1979 to 1990. In the Conservative Party she served, she dedicated her tenure to boosting Britain’s economy. Her controversial methods along with her strong personality would help Britain lay a foundation to become one of the strongest economies in the world.

Born to parents who worked as grocery shopkeepers, they taught her the value of saving money using conservative means. When they took a vacation, they would do so separately, so that their store was always in business. Following in her father’s footsteps, Margaret felt an early desire to lead people to better not only themselves, but also their situation. In 1943, she attended Oxford University to study chemistry. After graduating, she worked as a research chemist while attempting to become a Conservative Party candidate in Dartford.

In her early 30s, Thatcher was the youngest woman elected to the House of Commons. She was a staunch advocate of moral standards, equal opportunity, and free choice in education. She also voiced her beliefs in England’s military might and the privatization of many facets of government, including health care, education, and low-income housing units.

Margaret Thatcher served as the Secretary for Education and Science in the early 1970s. She gained the spotlight when she dismantled a controversial national program that distributed milk to under-privileged school children. While her policies were well grounded, she was still able to climb political ranks and join several cabinets, including the Health Cabinet. In Education, she made academic schools, geared for the elite, available to middle-class and lower-class children. In 1975, Thatcher had her eye set on becoming Prime Minister. No one in the Conservative Party was able to match her extensive portfolio of political experience.

In her role as the prime minister of Britain, Margaret Thatcher’s first term was marred with never before seen unemployment, a rise in poverty, and great social tension. However, through all of this, she claimed that she was laying the groundwork for her next term in office, which she won by a landslide. In her second and third terms, she planned on shaving the powers of unions and their ability to strike. Even through threats, bombings, and public pressure, she wouldn’t give into Unionists’ demands. In her third tenure as prime minister, Margaret Thatcher resigned due to her growing resistance to join the European Union and a poll tax that she initiated.

SUN TZU

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

If you are talking to a western person about Sun Tzu the most common pronunciation is "Sun Sue" like the Sun in the sky plus a boy named Sue.  This is nothing like the correct Chinese pronunciation which is "Sun Tzzz" Sun rhymes with un in the German word "unter" or the Spanish-English word (Military) "junta" plus Tzzz like the last sound you make when you say "words". 

The legend goes that Sun Tzu was born into minor nobility in what is now Shandong, a part of China north of Shanghai that became famous for Confucius and the really tasty Shandong Chicken.  Born "Sun Wu", he was given a good education and like Machiavelli, he wrote a military treatise in order to get noticed and hired by royalty.  Unlike Machiavelli, it worked.

Sun Wu expanded his 13 chapter Art of War into 82 chapters and trained the army.  Eventually he broke the peace by invading the southern state of Yue.  Other conflicts ensured but although his troops were once outnumbered 30,000 to 200,000 he was always victorious.  Many successes followed and continued after his death.  Some considered his death to be another of his deceptions. 

Finally though, the kingdom was defeated several years after his reported death.  Just over 100 years later his descendant, Sun Bing, lead troops to victory again and wrote his own treatise.  Sun Wu's name was changed to Sun Tzu on the Art of War as a sign of his status a master of philosophy.  The "Tzu   is similarly shared with Lao Tzu  , and Confucius (whose Chinese name is Kon Tzu )

The place and time of the creation of the Art of War are quite certain and supported by numerous historical records and evidences.  On the other hand there is no information on Sun Tzu that isn't contradicted by other sources. 

If there was a single person behind the Art of War, we can assume that they would have wanted to remain in safe obscurity as recommended in the book itself.  This may be further evidence of the brilliance of its writer. 

There are several instances in Asian history of people that created fake personas complete with homes, families and documents so that they could carry on their government or military work without showing the enemy their true identities.  This made them invulnerable to attack. 

Probably some parts of the legend are true, but at this late stage there is no way to tell which parts. 

WALT DISNEY

All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago Illinois, to his father Elias Disney, and mother Flora Call Disney. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl.

After Walt's birth, the Disney family moved to Marceline Missouri, Walt lived most of his childhood here.

Walt had very early interests in art, he would often sell drawings to neighbors to make extra money. He pursued his art career, by studying art and photography by going to McKinley High School in Chicago.

Walt began to love, and appreciate nature and wildlife, and family and community, which were a large part of agrarian living. Though his father could be quite stern, and often there was little money, Walt was encouraged by his mother, and older brother, Roy to pursue his talents.

During the fall of 1918, Disney attempted to enlist for military service. Rejected because he was under age, only sixteen years old at the time. Instead, Walt joined the Red Cross and was sent overseas to France, where he spent a year driving an ambulance and chauffeuring Red Cross officials. His ambulance was covered from stem to stern, not with stock camouflage, but with Disney cartoons.

Once Walt returned from France, he began to pursue a career in commercial art. He started a small company called Laugh-O-Grams, which eventually fell bankrupt. With his suitcase, and twenty dollars, Walt headed to Hollywood to start anew.

After making a success of his "Alice Comedies," Walt became a recognized Hollywood figure. On July 13, 1925, Walt married one of his first employees, Lillian Bounds, in Lewiston, Idaho. Later on they would be blessed with two daughters, Diane and Sharon .

In 1932, the production entitled Flowers and Trees(the first color cartoon) won Walt the first of his studio's Academy Awards. In 1937, he released The Old Mill, the first short subject to utilize the multi-plane camera technique.

On December 21, 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated musical feature, premiered at the Carthay Theater in Los Angeles. The film produced at the unheard cost of $1,499,000 during the depths of the Depression, the film is still considered one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion picture industry. During the next five years, Walt Disney Studios completed other full-length animated classics such asPinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi.

Walt Disney's dream of a clean, and organized amusement park, came true, as Disneyland Park opened in 1955. Walt also became a television pioneer, Disney began television production in 1954, and was among the first to present full-color programming with hisWonderful World of Color in 1961.

Walt Disney is a legend; a folk hero of the 20th century. His worldwide popularity was based upon the ideals which his name represents: imagination, optimism, creation, and self-made success in the American tradition. He brought us closer to the future, while telling us of the past, it is certain, that there will never be such as great a man, as Walt Disney.

SWAMY CHINMAYANANDHA

Efficiency is the capacity to bring proficiency into expression.

Swami Chinmayananda is counted amongst the most notable spiritual leaders in India. He was considered as an authority on the ancient Indian scriptures, especially the sacred Bhagwad Gita and the Upanishads. He was the founder of the Chinmayananda Mission and also the author of more than 30 books, dedicated to the philosophical belief behind religion. Read this biography on Swami Chinmayananda further to know more about the great leader, his life history, his mission, etc…

Swami Chinmayananda was born as Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam district of Kerala, in 1916. He completed his graduation from the Lucknow University and thereafter entered the field of journalism. Till that time, he felt that he could influence the political, economic and social reform movement through journalism. 

Meeting Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh proved to be a turning point in the life of Balakrishna. He developed an interest in the path of spirituality. It was under Swami Sivananda only that Balakrishna took Sanyas (asceticism) and became Swami Chinmayananda. Seeing the enormous untapped potential of Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Sivananda sent him to study under Swami Tapovan Maharaj in the Himalayas. After studying for eight years under Swami Tapovan, Chinmayananda decided to spread his knowledge amongst people

Swami Chinmayananda spent forty years of his life in helping others. He opened a number of ashrams, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics throughout the world.

Swami Chinmayananda was selected as the President of Hindu Religion by the Hindu Host Committee in the year 1993. The honor was given to him at the Meeting of the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. He was also honored for serving humanity selflessly throughout his life at "World Vision 2000," a conference of religious leaders. Swami Chinmayananda left this world on August 3, 1993 to become one with the Supreme Lord. He died in San Diego, California. 

Chinmayananda Mission was founded with an aim, to bring the timeless knowledge of Vedanta closer to people. At the same time, it teaches them to way to attain spiritual growth and contentment.

MARK TWAIN

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. 

CLICK HERE FOR MARK TWAIN

WARREN BUFFETT

Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing. 

Warren Buffett was born in Nebraska, Omaha USA on the 30th of August in 1930. He is one of the worlds richest men, with a fortune that is only surpassed by Bill Gates of Microsoft fame. He is considered one of the most successful investors of all time and has picked up the nickname of the "Oracle of Omaha". Buffett was born to Leila and Howard Buffett and was the second of three children, he being the only boy. Buffett's father, Howard was a stockbroker and also became a member of congress. Warren Buffett showed early signs of being entrepreneurial through being involved in various business dealings as a child, including purchasing bottles of cola cheaply and selling them for a profit. He also made his first investment in the stock market when he was just 11 years old. Buffett began studying at the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, but transferred to the University of Nebraska where he graduated. He then went on to the Columbia University to do a Masters in economics. This was where he met the influential value investor Benjamin Graham.  The young investor was very influenced by Benjamin Graham and went to work for him in his company "Graham-Newman". It was here that Warren Buffett developed many of his stock market investing skills that have now become legendary. Graham developed a method where investors could work out the intrinsic value of a company and make intelligent investing decisions by comparing the stock price to the intrinsic value.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Berkshire Hathaway

After Graham's retirement, Buffett returned to Omaha and began a limited investing fund partnership with a group of friends, family and associates. The "Buffett Partnerships Ltd" fund racked up amazing returns for its investors over a ten year period, with returns 10 times higher than the Dow Jones Industrial average for the same time. Buffett liquidated the fund and took control of the textile company Berkshire Hathaway.

It was a difficult time for the textile industry and Buffett eventually wound up Berkshire Hathaway's textile activities, but kept the name for Buffett's portfolio of companies and investments. The insurance industry was the first major area of success that Berkshire Hathaway had, with the funds used to acquire carefully selected investments each year. Major undervalued companies that Buffett took advantage of included "American Express", "Coca-Cola" "The Washington Post" and "Gillette". Berkshire Hathaway owns large holdings of each of the above major brand companies (more than 5% each).

Selected Berkshire subsidiary companies include:

• Borsheim's Fine Jewelry
• Acme Brick Company
• Buffalo NEWS, Buffalo NY
• Clayton Homes
• Fruit of the Loom
• GEICO Direct Auto Insurance
• General Re
• Helzberg Diamonds
• Nebraska Furniture Mart
• The Pampered Chef
• See's Candies
• United States Liability Insurance Group

Warren Buffett lives with his long time partner Astrid Menks in Omaha, USA. He was married to Susan Thompson up until her death from stroke in July 2004, but the couple were separated in 1977. They chose not to divorce and remained good friends and business associates. Buffett's late wife was set to inherit much of his fortune upon his death.

Warren Buffet Gives Away his Billions to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Buffett is a generous philanthropist and was giving more than $USD12 million each year to the Buffett Foundation (no called the "Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation"). His largest charitable donation was to be upon his death when he had planned to give 99% of his massive fortune to the foundation.

In June 2006 Buffett announced plans to give much of his wealth away while he is still living. The majority of the Buffett billions will go to the foundation of his Bridge partner and friend of fifteen years, Bill Gates.