Not only did this man struggle for 20 years to write definitive guide to success, but he experienced poverty, his life was threatened, his backers were murdered, he suffered from bouts of hopelessness, and his family suffered beyond all understanding.

His was not an overnight success.

One thing that stood out in Hill's life story was his ability to turn negative into positive. He always looked for what some people call that silver lining in dark cloud. As I thought about Hill's life, I realized I've been noticing this ability to see good in bad practiced by others, too.

I was at a meeting with my friend Mark Joyner, Internet pioneer and bestselling author. I overheard Mark talking to a man who had just gone through hell due to FTC. Mark listened to man's sad story and then said, "Turn it into something good."

This was remarkable advice. It's kind of thing Napoleon Hill would have said. It goes against what most people ever even attempt to try. The whole idea of taking whatever happens to you and turning it into something good seems, at first glance, preposterous.

But this also seems to be a key to success. I remember P.T. Barnum offering a to buy a rival's elephant. He sent a telegram stating his offer. His competitors took Barnum's telegram and ran it as an ad, saying, "Here's what Barnum thinks of our elephant."

Instead of being upset, Barnum decided to join with those competitors. That gave birth to famous Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum took experience and turned it into something good.

Think back to a time in your life when you felt inspired and excited to make a significant change. Did you go for it or did your inner obstacles get in way?

Your thoughts and beliefs are foundation on which you build your success. You can't build a solid house on a foundation of clay and debris and same truth holds for your success.

If your thoughts and beliefs are shaky, these obstacles will hold you back unless you eliminate them.

Sometimes it is our friends, colleagues and family members who sow seed of doubts by trying to talk you out of changing your path. It is when you decide to make a better life for yourself that your decision will be met by all kinds of cautious warnings. All unsolicited under guise of serious concern and well meaning.

People will say such things as "that sounds great, "but do you have any idea how much that will cost you or how long it'll take to get kind of result you want?" Or, "And what will you do if it doesn't work out?" Or, "what will happen if . . .?" Downright to "you'd better stick to what you have now, at least you know what you've got".

Regardless origin of these warnings, they only serve to increase your level of anxiety and self doubts. The best way to handle such opinions is to thank your friends for their concern. Turn deaf ears to their platitudes and decide to watch out for whom you share your ideas with in near future.

Learning to handle obstacles is best way to stand your ground and succeed. While running away only undermines your self esteem.

Nature presents you with these challenges in order to learn to weather storm and grow stronger.

To succeed at overcoming obstacles you need to have guts not to quit, but to see things through; to have strong faith to believe more in yourself than in obstacles and to have willingness to do what it takes to turn obstacles around.