Who they are
The protagonist of the opening chapter of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich — a man who decided to become Thomas Edison's business partner, showed up penniless at Edison's lab, and refused to leave until he earned the role, eventually becoming the exclusive distributor of the Edison Dictating Machine. Whether the story is literally accurate is debated, but Barnes is cited repeatedly by founders as the archetype of "burn the ships" conviction — the willingness to make a decision and then make it true.
Core Ideas
- Definite purpose — a specific, non-negotiable goal beats a menu of options
- Burning bridges — eliminate retreat to force forward motion
- Standing next to the fire — proximity to the right person compounds
Related
- Napoleon Hill — the author who told his story
- Thomas Edison — the partner he chose