The Strangest Secret / The 30 Day Challenge (1956) by Earl Nightingale

Summary: In 1950 Earl Nightingale was inspired by the words “we become what we think about“ in Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich around the same time he bought an insurance agency. He provided weekly motivational speeches to the agency’s sales staff. In 1956, he recorded a motivational speech to be played while he was on vacation. The motivational speech explores the concept of success and how to achieve it. In the recording, Nightingale discusses the idea that success is not the result of luck or chance, but rather a direct result of our thoughts and actions. He argues that the key to success is to have a clear and specific goal, and to take consistent action towards achieving that goal. Nightingale also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the role that our beliefs and attitudes play in determining the course of our lives. He encourages listeners to adopt a positive and proactive mindset, and to take control of their thoughts and actions in order to cre