1357 Plan For Personal Achievement (Napoleon Hill)

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Check out this old study planner that I found from Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone called: “1357 Plan For Personal Achievement.”

I wasn’t sure what 1357 meant, but it was something published from my favorite author, Napoleon Hill, that I had never seen before, so I had to have it. After I got it home, I found that it was a system they had created for studying and applying personal development books! The premise is that you need to spend 13 minutes and 57 seconds per day reading a personal development book, and then use this form inside of the binder to help you to apply what you learned!

Here is the introduction from the front section of the binder:

WHAT IS THE 1357 PLAN?

It is the dedication and discipline of spending a minimum of thirteen minutes and fifty-seven seconds, each day, alone with a self-help book. Read it as though the author were writing you a personal letter in response to a letter you wrote him, asking for his advice and help. It will be like receiving a letter from him every day, for the next two months. As the book is read you will search for principles, ideas and techniques which will move you closer to your goal. A goal which will help fulfill your dream.

WHO IS THE 1357 PLAN FOR?

Anyone who has goals in life not yet attained. Anyone who wants to experience the true riches of life.

WHY USE THE 1357 PLAN?

To discover the power of a self-help book. A self-help book has changed the lives of countless numbers of people. It has motivated them to establish and achieve goals beyond what they previously imagined!

The 1357 Plan is a practical way to read a self-help book. It is a way to "keep score" of the things you RECOGNIZED, RELATED, ASSIMILATED, and put into ACTION!

HOW TO USE THE 1357 PLAN:

1. Select a time and place for spending a minimum of thirteen minutes and fifty-seven seconds alone with a self-help book. It is important that you eliminate distractions and concentrate. Make your mind more receptive and retentive.

2. Read the pages for the day, as if the author were speaking to you and you alone. Underline key phrases. Make notes in the margin. Search for success principles, ideas and techniques.

3. After reading, complete the work sheet for the day. List the one principle that is MOST meaningful to you. You may wish to list additional principles in the notes section at the back of your work book.

4. Every seventh day, review your work sheets for the previous week. Inspect your progress. Then, take the principle, idea or technique that is most meaningful to you and list it on the WCS Personal Achievement Card.

5. (Optional) If your family, co-workers, sales team, etc., decide to use the 1357 Plan, a master mind alliance could be formed. Each person would read and complete the work sheets on their own, then they would meet every morning or at designated times each week, to discuss the principles and exchange ideas.

6. After identifying the principles, it is important to incorporate them into your life. Use the R2 / A2 FORMULA…

THE R2 / A2 FORMULA

Your ability to RECOGNIZE, RELATE, ASSIMILATE and USE the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) principles is the power that will open any door, meet any challenge, overcome any obstacle and help you to achieve success, wealth and happiness.

Self-help literature is comprised of fundamental principles that have stood the test of time. A PRINCIPLE is a basic truth—a universal law that does not change. For example, a physics principle is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

We can compare self-help principles to an orchestra which is composed of different sections—strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Each section has an individual tone and is independent. Yet, when they play together, they compliment each other and produce a melodious, full and pleasant sound. Likewise, self-help principles are independent—they can stand alone because of their values. Each one is helpful to successful living. When they are combined, they form a living philosophy with success guidelines.

You are the maestro. The ability to RECOGNIZE, RELATE, ASSIMILATE and USE the PMA principles is your baton. Use it and blend the success principles into a meaningful and productive life.

Like any formula, the R2 / A2 FORMULA is made up of individual parts. Let's analyze each ingredient:

R - RECOGNIZE ... is to identify the principle, idea or technique.

R - RELATE ... is to connect or join together; to establish relationship.

A - ASSIMILATE ... is to make similar or alike; to incorporate; to absorb; to become a part of.

A - ACTION ... is to denote USE; follow-through; doing.

Each ingredient of the formula is important and has special meaning; but, when combined, they form a formula for your success. By using the formula, you will be able to focus the spotlight on the success principles that have directed and guided W.‌‌ Clement Stone and other successful men in achieving their objectives. The same principles can and will help you achieve success.

DEVELOP YOUR SUCCESS REFLEX

Let's take another approach to the R2 / A2 FORMULA, one that will make it even clearer and more applicable.

First of all, we need a SUCCESS REFLEX, a trigger phrase that will immediately direct our minds when we RECOGNIZE a success principle.

RECOGNIZE or… “THAT'S FOR ME!” I RECOGNIZE the principle that is being used. It helped someone else. I can see the result. It will work for me—if I use it. “THAT'S FOR ME!”

RELATE or… “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? What will the success principles do for ME?” IMPORTANT: You must RELATE the principles to yourself. Start with the most important living person as far as you are concerned—YOU.

ASSIMILATE or… “HOW CAN I USE THE PRINCIPLE TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS? How can I absorb the principles into my behavior so that they become a part of me? How can I develop a success habit—a success reflex—so that the right thing will be done?”

ACTION or… “WHEN AM I GOING TO USE IT? When am I going to start?" Ask yourself this important question and then follow-through with the self-starter: DO IT NOW! Yes, DO IT NOW!

The R2 / A2 FORMULA should become so ingrained in your mind that you can RECOGNIZE success principles from listening to a sermon, from reading a newspaper or magazine article, from reading a self-help book, from studying the lives of great men, and many other sources. Remember, develop and use your own success reflex—THAT'S FOR ME!…

GOAL SETTING

Once you have selected the principle which you wish to put into action, goal setting guidelines will provide a roadmap to your desired results. These guidelines will move you along the road to success.

These guidelines, as stated here, are for the purpose of short-term goal setting. A Goal must be:

Conceivable – You must be able to conceive the desired goal. Perhaps the best way to do this is to visualize it—see it as a picture in your mind. If this is difficult for you, then describe the goal using words which are specific and clear.

Believable – The goal must be important (valuable) to you and you must believe you can reach it. Remember there are people who accomplish goals they have never seen achieved by someone else.

Achievable – This guideline is based on your abilities and experience. Again, remember, if you do not have all the resources, you only need those required for the first step.

Controllable – This is one of the more difficult guidelines to use because it requires a different type of thinking than we normally apply. If your goal includes the involvement of anyone else, you should first obtain the permission of the other persons to be involved. If that is not possible, then state the goal in terms of your activities rather than the final results expected. Use a formula for success.

Example: Rather than saying: “I will take my wife to the movies tonight” (she may not want to go), say: “I will invite my wife to go to the movies tonight.”

Measurable – The goal must be stated so it can be measured in time and quantity. For example, rather than state, “I am going to do a good job selling today.” You would say, “I am going to make 20 complete sales presentations today.” By stating the goal in this manner, you will know whether or not you have been successful.

Desirable – The goal you select is more meaningful if it is something you really want to do rather than something you feel you should do. It is well known that there are many things in life a person has to do, but to remain highly motivated one needs to devote considerable time to the "want" side of life.

Stated with No Alternatives – The time to consider alternatives is when one is thinking. When ready to take action, the alternatives need to be eliminated. A goal which includes the words “if,” “when,” and “or” is not motivational. Those words delay action and work against the “Do It Now Concept.”

Growth-Facilitating – The goal is to be beneficial to yourself and/or others.

On page six of Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude, W. Clement Stone states: “Every adversity has the seed of a greater benefit.” Let's say that you select this principle as the one you wish to put into action.

Last week you might have had fewer new sales than you wanted. Looking at this principle, you could say that this week your goal would be to use a minimum of three rebuttals in each sales situation where you get a “no.” Last week you would have only used one rebuttal. As you work down the street, you realize that more rebuttals are helping you make more sales. But you would not have tried the three rebuttal approach if you had not experienced the adversity the week before.

Note how the goal fits the guidelines:

Conceivable – You can see yourself giving three rebuttals.
Believable – You believe you can do it.
Achievable – You have the skills and knowledge to use three rebuttals.
Controllable – It's controllable because it is based on your action.
Measurable – You know when you have given at least three.
Desirable – You want to improve.
No Alternatives – It is specific.
Growth-Facilitating – The act will help both you and the policyholder.

After this intro, the rest of the binder was made up of forms that you could fill out each morning after you read you 13 minutes and 57 seconds. Attached is a picture of the form:

We made a downloadable printable version of this page that you can use here:

www.SecretsOfSuccess.com/1357

This is a tool that you can now use, and add to your morning routine as you are consuming all of the books inside of the Secrets Of Success membership site (as well as this newsletter!)

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