Napoleon Hill simply believed in people's power.

One way he put it: "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

The American author, instructor and motivational speaker was one of the earliest creators of the self-help literary genre. His books, magazines, lectures and training sessions helped millions of people discover the secrets of success.

"The cogent advice articulated by Napoleon Hill is as relevant and pertinent today as the day it was written," Donald Keough, former Coca-Cola president, is quoted as saying.

Millions of people attribute their accomplishments to Hill's positive philosophy. His seven books have spread throughout the world, particularly "Think and Grow Rich," which has sold 40 million copies and is available in all major languages and dialects.

Born in Wise County, Va., Hill (1883-1970) spent much time examining personal beliefs and their role in one's level of achievement.

But the road to success wasn't easy for Napoleon, or Nap. Born into poverty, he stumbled along with failure. But that didn't stop him. He simply gathered his strength and marched forward.

In his search for the secret of success, Hill connected with the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Hill's most significant books, "Think and Grow Rich" and "The Law of Success," came after two decades of research into characteristics of 500 successful men and women of America.

Hill received a big spark early when his stepmother, Martha, expressed belief in him. She urged young Nap to do something constructive with his imaginative, gun-wielding side.

He was just 12. Following up her advice, Martha gave him a typewriter and said, "If you become as good with a typewriter as you are with that gun, you may become rich and famous and known throughout the world."

Nap was listening. At this early age, he already lusted for fame and fortune.

Three years later, Hill started out as a freelance reporter in the mountain area his family lived in — and quickly showed creativity.

One of his constructions was a motto he would use the rest of his life: "To go an extra mile and perform more than what one is compensated for."

That philosophy got him hired by a prominent Virginia attorney after Hill finished high school and landed a business degree.

Hill was looking the part. He made sure to wear business suits and stand straight to distinguish himself as a serious man.

His appearance — along with enthusiasm, hard work and honesty — helped Hill get several promotions.

As he rose, he spoke out, particularly against prejudice and racism, long before such a stand was fashionable, wrote Michael Ritt and Kirk Landers in "A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill."

Then came a big pothole on Hill's road: the economic crisis of 1908. That wiped out his job.

Not one for self-pity, he focused on writing about successful businesspeople for Bob Taylor's Magazine, which provided guidance for average people who inspired to gain wealth and power.

One of his interviews was with industrialist Andrew Carnegie in New York City. Coming soon after Hill's layoff, the talk dramatically changed his life — especially when Carnegie said, "Every failure carries within itself the seed of an equivalent advantage."

The steel magnate, who used his fortune to support libraries and colleges, believed that an average person who wanted to advance in life could gain great benefit from studying the philosophy of success from the greatest leaders.

Hill translated that into the principle of a positive mental attitude. He figured that upbeat approach let success-oriented people attract like-minded individuals in order to accomplish their goals.

Carnegie liked Hill's admiration for his utopian vision and asked him to go out and study the secret of the 500 richest Americans of the 19th and 20th centuries. Hill would get no pay aside from out-of-pocket expenses.

The way Carnegie saw it, the project could take decades and would be well worth it, even without payment.

Hill agreed. The result was "Think and Grow Rich," which came out in 1937 and turned into a best-seller.

The book lists 13 principles to help people reach success. Among them are desire, faith, imagination, persistence and planning.

Hill's own application of the principles started with his son, who was born without ears in 1912. Nap inspired Blair to overcome his handicap, never letting him give up.

As Hill met leaders during his Carnegie project, his self-confidence propelled him to become a master in the art of motivation.

FDR saw that. Immersed in the Great Depression, the president hired Hill to join the White House staff as an adviser and speechwriter for the National Recovery Administration. Hill proved a natural in trying to revive Americans from their lack of confidence in the country and institutions.

But his busy career hurt his personal life. His wife, Florence, filed for divorce in 1935. Hill's relationship with his sons also suffered due to his long absences from home.

Publicly, his efforts paid off. Suddenly Hill's recognition and influence grew. His work became the precursor to today's multibillion self-help literature industry.

"Hill's incredibly persuasive speaking style soon led to an innovation in modern communications," wrote Ritt and Landers. "The offering included not only 10 printed lessons, but six phonograph records as well. . . . This pioneering blend of communications vehicles was an early forerunner of motivational audio programs."

Judith Williamson, director of education for the Napoleon Hill Foundation in Indiana, said on the Hill learning center's Web site that his "definition of success far exceeded simple financial gain. And that's one reason why his principles still work today after all these years, because they are leadership principles."

BY MARIE BEERENS