882 THE P R INC I P L E S 0 F PER SON A LIN T E G R I T Y
the streams to the other were little streams, creating what resembled
a great ladder of water.
As I looked at this unusual scene, the thought flashed into my
mind that I would have a splendid lecture if I organized all that I
had learned from the seven turning points of my life, and all I had
learned from studying the lives of successful men, and offered it under
the title "The Magic Ladder to Success:'COMMENTARY
For anyone who may be reading this lesson before reading all of the pre-
vious lessons, or who may not have read the Editors' Note at the beginning
of this book, we will repeat an explanatory portion of a commentary from
Lesson Nine so that you will better understand what Napoleon Hill means
by "studying the lives of successful men." The source of this information
is again A Lifetime of Riches.
In 1908, during a particularly down time in the U.S. economy and
with no money and no work, Hill took a job with Bob Taylor's Magazine.
Although it would not provide much in the way of income, it would provide
the opportunity to meet and profile the giants of industry and business-
the first of whom was the creator of America:S steel industry, multimillion-
aire Andrew Carnegie, who was to become Hill:S mentor.
Carnegie was so impressed by HiII:S perceptive mind that following
their three-hour interview he invited Hill to spend the weekend at his estate.
After two more days of conversation, Carnegie told Hill that he believed
any person could achieve greatness if they understood the philosophy of
success and the steps required to achieve it, and that this knowledge
could be gained by interviewing those who had achieved greatness and
then compiling the information and research into a comprehensive set of
principles. He believed it would take at least twenty years, and offered Hill
the challenge-for no more compensation than that Carnegie would make
the necessary introductions and cover travel expenses.