Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have everything — money, freedom, happiness — while others work hard but never seem to get ahead?
I used to ask myself this all the time.
Then I discovered a simple but powerful idea that completely changed my life. It comes from an audiobook called The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. And I truly believe this “secret” is the foundation of every success story you’ve ever heard.
Today, I want to break it down for you and share how you can use this principle to transform your own life and business.
What Is “The Strangest Secret”?
Earl Nightingale recorded The Strangest Secret back in the 1950s, and it became one of the first spoken-word recordings to sell over a million copies. People were blown away by how simple — and how true — this message was.
So, what is the “secret”?
We become what we think about.
That’s it.
It sounds too simple, right? But stay with me — because this idea is powerful.
Every great teacher throughout history has said some version of this:
- The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
- Buddha taught, “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”
- Marcus Aurelius wrote, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.”
Earl Nightingale put it in plain English: Your life is shaped by your dominant thoughts.
If you think about success, abundance, and opportunity, you will find ways to create those things.
If you think about fear, failure, and lack, you will attract more of the same.
The 5 Big Principles of The Strangest Secret
Let’s break down the key lessons from Earl Nightingale’s message and talk about how to apply them to your own journey.
1. You Become What You Think About
This is the heart of the whole message.
Think about your life like a garden. Your mind is the soil. Whatever seeds you plant — whether good or bad — will grow.
- If you plant seeds of success (positive thoughts, goals, ideas), you will grow success.
- If you plant seeds of fear, doubt, and worry, those weeds will grow too.
The question is: What are you planting every day?
This is why I start every morning with affirmations, goal-setting, and reading books like Think and Grow Rich. It helps me make sure I’m planting good seeds in my mind.
2. Set a Clear Goal
Earl Nightingale said, “People with goals succeed because they know where they are going.”
Most people drift through life without a clear direction. They wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed — and repeat. But they never stop to decide what they really want.
If you want to use this secret, you must get crystal clear on what you want.
- How much money do you want to earn?
- What kind of business do you want to build?
- Where do you want to live?
- How do you want to feel every day?
Write it down. Be specific. Don’t just say, “I want more money.” Say, “I earn $10,000 per month by helping others build online businesses.”
3. Act As If It’s Already Yours
This is where many people get stuck. They say, “I’ll feel successful once I have success.” But Earl Nightingale flips that idea on its head.
He says: Act and think like the person you want to become — right now.
If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, start acting like one today.
- Study what successful entrepreneurs do.
- Build the habits they have.
- Treat your business like a business, not a hobby.
When you do this, something amazing happens — opportunities start showing up because you’re already thinking and acting at a higher level.
4. Persist — No Matter What
This is where most people fail.
They set a goal, get excited, take action for a few days… then they stop when things get hard.
Earl Nightingale says you must keep going for 30 days straight without letting fear or negative thinking take over.
Thirty days may not sound like much, but it’s long enough to build a new habit of thinking. It’s also long enough to face challenges — and learn that you can overcome them.
If you stick with your goal for 30 days, you’ll build momentum. And once momentum is on your side, success starts to feel inevitable.
5. Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life
This one is tough but necessary.
You are where you are right now because of what you’ve been thinking and doing in the past. That might feel uncomfortable to admit — but it’s actually good news!
Why?
Because if your past thoughts and actions created your current life, then your new thoughts and actions can create a brand-new future.
This is what I love about entrepreneurship and affiliate marketing. You can literally create a new reality for yourself by thinking differently, acting differently, and staying consistent.
How I Applied This Secret in My Own Life
When I first heard The Strangest Secret, I was struggling. I wanted to build a business but felt stuck in “information overload.” I had tried different programs and ideas, but nothing seemed to click.
When I committed to thinking differently, everything started to shift.
I stopped saying things like, “I can’t do this” or “This won’t work for me.” Instead, I started saying:
- “I am building a successful business.”
- “I attract the right people into my life.”
- “I am becoming the person who can handle $10K months.”
It wasn’t magic — but it was powerful. Over time, my actions started matching my new thoughts. I started taking consistent action, showing up online, and surrounding myself with people who were going after similar goals.
And sure enough, my results started to change.
How You Can Start Using This Secret Today
Here’s a simple action plan you can follow right now:
- Decide what you want. Write down a clear, specific goal.
- Write it on a card. Carry it with you everywhere.
- Read it every morning and every night.
- Visualize yourself already having it.
- Take action daily. Do one thing every day that moves you closer to your goal.
- Guard your mind. Stop filling it with negativity, news, or gossip. Fill it with books, podcasts, and mentors who inspire you.
- Stay with it for 30 days. Don’t give up. Even if it feels like nothing is happening, trust the process.
Do this, and you’ll be shocked at how much can change in just a month.
Final Thoughts
The Strangest Secret isn’t really strange at all — it’s just a truth most people ignore.
You are the captain of your mind. You are planting seeds every single day. And one day, you will harvest exactly what you’ve planted.
So, what do you want to grow?
If you want to grow a life of freedom, purpose, and abundance, start today. Choose your goal, focus on it, think about it every day, and take action toward it.
You’ll be amazed at what you can create.
Would you like me to create two images for this post — one with Earl Nightingale / “We Become What We Think About” as a quote graphic, and one showing a person visualizing success — to make it more visually appealing and SEO-friendly?
💫 You were never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true.
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