Think and Grow Rich The Legacy - a new book from James Whittaker

Is there a secret formula for success? What do the world’s foremost thought leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs have in common? Is it down to luck? Tenacity? Background? These are the questions Napoleon Hill explored in the early 20th century, culminating in the publication of his legendary success manual, Think and Grow Rich. The method he outlined for achieving desired prosperity made his book, originally published in 1937, an enduring bestseller. Earlier this month, author, entrepreneur,  keynote speaker, and Hult MBA alum James Whittaker published an inspirational modern companion to Hill’s classic, Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy. From television personalities to property moguls and professional skateboarders, James interviewed over 100 of today’s best-known business leaders and cultural icons to chart their personal paths to success, often in the face of overwhelming odds. His book, released in conjunction with a major motion picture, demonstrates that the potential for extraordinary success and fulfilment isn’t predetermined by factors like age, race, or socioeconomic background. We spoke to James to find out more about his recent project and life after Hult. What did you get up to after completing your MBA? After graduating in Boston, I moved to LA and launched some companies in health and fitness. It was an interesting contrast to the 10 years I spent in financial planning and made me realize how important it is to give people the tools to take ownership of their financial, physical, and mental health, rather than just one of those areas. Give us a brief overview of the Think and Grow Rich project. Where did the idea first come from? I met the film producers and we got along very well from the get-go. I loved the idea of bringing the bestselling self-help book of all time to the big screen, and they appreciated how much I understood their grandiose vision for the project. I asked them if they had plans to release a book with the film, but at that point they were so busy on day-to-day production that they hadnt been able to explore it in much detail. A week later, in a phone call with the CEO of the project Sean Donovan, I told him what I thought they should do with the book. He didnt say anything for about 20 seconds, and then said, Wowthats amazing! He asked me if I could write it for them, I said it would be my pleasure, and from that moment I came onboard as co-executive producer of the film and author of the book. ï » ¿ How did you approach the project? Was it intimidating to revisit such a well-known book? Most people ask me how it felt to be rewriting one of the most famous books of all time, but its like rewriting the bible—no one could ever do it justice, so I was careful not to overthink it or put too much pressure on myself. The way Ive written the book is that each chapter is dedicated to a modern interpretation of Hills principles, what he coined as the â€Å"achievement philosophy,† and then followed up with unique stories of people who have been able to radically change their lives through a simple shift in thinking. By doing this, my aim is to make Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy a perfect modern companion to the original book, rather than a replacement. What success story did you personally find most inspiring? Why? The story I found most inspiring was a woman named Janine Shepherd. Her TED Talk has more than 1.4 million views and its literally the most incredible story Ive ever heard. In 1988 Janine was a cross-country skier, tipped to win gold at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary later that year. On a training bicycle ride in the Blue Mountains, she was hit by a truck and her entire life was shattered. I wont spoil the rest of the story, but the TED Talk gives a great overview and you can read all about her recovery and resurgence in Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy. So many of us dwell on what we perceive as being rock bottom, whether thats being made redundant from a job, the breakdown of a relationship, or financial difficulties. But adding the most brutal physical trauma on top of that, and having your entire identity erased, is true rock bottom and something very few can comprehend. Hers is an astounding story from an incredibly courageous woman. Whats the one takeaway from Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy that you feel is most relevant to Hult students? Hult students are famously diverse: from every country on Earth, in every industry, and of all backgrounds. I think the common theme among them, though, is the commitment to excellence. Everyone enrolls in Hult because they want to prove something to themselves and fan the flame of ambition burning within. The book aims to help people in a similar way. Each story shows that it’s the consistent application of proven success principles that catapults ordinary people to extraordinary achievement. Too many people get caught up with searching for the magic pill to success. The key is to do the basics well and do them consistently. The Hult environment is intense, involving the pressure of grades, the rigors of preparing for a post-Hult career, and the challenges of a truly diverse student body. Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy encourages people to embrace their struggles. The stories in the book prove that, if properly channeled, the adversity people face is what ultimately spurs them on to taking ownership of their lives and stepping into their true selves. The decision to triumph begins with you—always. â€Å"Too many people get caught up with searching for the magic pill to success. The key is to do the basics well, and do them consistently.† Whats the biggest lesson youve taken with you from your time at Hult? I mentioned this during my address at graduation, and it still rings true: Seek first to understand, and then to be understood. It comes from Stephen Coveys Seven Habits of Highly Effective People if I recall correctly, and was the theme of one of our classes during my MBA experience at Hult. In the world of instant gratification, were too quick to open our mouths rather than our ears. This is especially true when we dont know other people well or don’t have a proper understanding of their culture. The best-performing groups for projects throughout the Hult MBA program were ones that embraced their diversity and found a way to use it to their advantage. Not only is it a great social skill for building friendships and rapport quickly, it can be a powerful negotiating tactic for business. What advice do you have for a Hult student who might be interested in getting into publishing or film production? My advice to Hult students would be:  tap into your inner voice. We all have stories worth telling and sharing with the world, but sometimes our own lack of confidence and fear of criticism can stymie our creative efforts. From an early age, were conditioned to follow the traditional route of getting a stable job, buying a home, and settling into life in the suburbs without much excitement. But for those who have that burning desire to do more should explore those feelings. The outline I give people during my keynote presentations is: First, get clear on what you want. Second, come up with a bulletproof plan. Third, get out of your comfort zone. Fourth, surround yourself with winners. And finally, embrace the struggle. You will see that outline consistently in every single story in Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, and its the key to succeeding in any area of life. â€Å"Tap into your inner voice. We all have stories worth telling and sharing with the world, but sometimes our own lack of confidence and fear of criticism can stymie our creative efforts.† Whats next for you? Theres a few surprise projects in the works, but Im most excited about continuing to build a speaking career in the U.S. and show as many people as possible that everything they need to succeed is already in their possession. Ive also got two more book projects underway, am an early stage investor in a number of businesses, and have my own wedding in April. Life is busy, but good! For more inspiration, you can order a copy of James’s book Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy on Amazon. You can also download the eBook here, or watch the film online. Connect with James on Facebook:  facebook.com/jameswhitt Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Hult scores in top 20 in The Economist’s Which MBA? ranking for 2019, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .