The Motivational Minds of B.J. Palmer, Napoleon Hill, and Elbert Hubbard

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

In the early 20th century, three remarkable figures (B.J. Palmer, Napoleon Hill, and Elbert Hubbard) crossed paths in a confluence of ideas that would ripple through time. Palmer, the chiropractic visionary behind the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, formed unique bonds with Hill, a budding personal development expert, and Hubbard, a literary icon of the Arts and Crafts movement. Each brought a distinct motivational voice to their era, inspiring action and vision in ways that still resonate in today’s world of personal development and leadership.

B.J. Palmer: The Chiropractic Superman

B.J. Palmer (1882–1961), known as “The Developer” of chiropractic, was a dynamo of energy and persuasion. Taking over the Palmer School (The Fountainhead) in 1906 after his father’s death, he transformed it into a hub of innovation and education. His motivational language was bold and evangelical, often delivered through lectures, radio broadcasts (via WOC, launched in 1922), and the annual Palmer Lyceum. Palmer’s knack for memorable phrasing shone in slogans like “The Big Idea,” urging followers to embrace a transformative principle that could change lives. His charisma drew luminaries like Hill and Hubbard into his orbit, forging connections that amplified their collective impact.

Napoleon Hill: Teaching Success at The Fountainhead

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) met B.J. Palmer in the early 1920s, a pivotal moment as Hill was shaping his philosophy of success. By 1921–1922, Palmer invited Hill to teach at the Palmer School of Chiropractic, recognizing the synergy between Hill’s ideas and his own mission to inspire. Hill, then developing what would become The Law of Success (1928), brought his lectures to Davenport’s students and faculty, offering a blueprint for achievement rooted in interviews with titans like Andrew Carnegie.

• Hill’s stint at Palmer’s school was a professional collaboration. Palmer, ever the promoter, saw Hill’s motivational framework as a way to energize his community. Their relationship likely deepened through a shared mutual passion for uplifting others, with Hill lecturing during a time when Palmer was expanding his reach via radio.
• Hill’s style was structured yet aspirational, blending practical steps with lofty ideals. He spoke of “definiteness of purpose,” encouraging listeners to fixate on a clear goal and pursue it relentlessly. His talks at Palmer emphasized mental focus and persistence, weaving anecdotes of industrial giants into lessons for everyday success. Students at The Fountainhead would have heard Hill’s call to “think and grow rich,” a phrase he’d later immortalize.
• Teachings at Palmer: Hill’s curriculum at the school was an early iteration of The Law of Success, a 16-lesson course on personal achievement. He taught principles like self-confidence, initiative, and imagination, tailoring them to chiropractic students eager to build practices and lives of impact. Palmer’s influence (his own larger-than-life presence) likely sharpened Hill’s delivery, preparing him for his later global audience.
• Modern Influence: Hill’s work remains a cornerstone of motivational thought. Think and Grow Rich (1937) has sold millions, inspiring figures from Tony Robbins to modern entrepreneurs. His emphasis on mindset and goal-setting underpins today’s self-help industry, a legacy forged in Palmer’s classrooms.

Elbert Hubbard: A Literary Friend in Davenport

Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915), the writer and Roycroft founder, connected with B.J. Palmer through a personal friendship that blossomed in the early 1900s. Hubbard, based in East Aurora, New York, visited Davenport and corresponded with Palmer, drawn by their shared love of bold ideas and individualism. Their bond, cut short by Hubbard’s death in 1915 aboard the Lusitania, left a lasting imprint on Palmer’s worldview.

Do one thing well and the world will beat a path to your door.

• Hubbard and Palmer’s friendship grew from mutual admiration. Hubbard, a literary celebrity after A Message to Garcia (1899), likely met Palmer during travels or through chiropractic circles (Palmer’s father, D.D., had ties to alternative thinkers Hubbard might have known). Their exchanges are documented in chiropractic histories, included visits to Davenport and letters reflecting a kinship of spirit.
• Hubbard’s voice was poetic, blending wit with moral force. In A Message to Garcia, he championed initiative as a virtue for a chaotic world. His essays in The Philistine magazine urged readers to act decisively, often with lines like “Do one thing well and the world will beat a path to your door.” This succinct, action-oriented style resonated with Palmer’s own flair for inspiration.
• Hubbard’s visits to Davenport and their correspondence suggest a mentor-like role. Palmer, in his 20s during their peak interaction (1900s–1910s), absorbed Hubbard’s knack for distilling complex ideas into rallying cries. Though Hubbard died before Palmer’s 1920s heyday, his influence lingered in Palmer’s Lyceum speeches and promotional zeal.
• Hubbard’s legacy endures in leadership and motivational circles. A Message to Garcia is still cited by business coaches and military trainers for its call to responsibility. His Roycroft ethos (craftsmanship and self-reliance) inspires today’s artisanal and entrepreneurial movements, echoing in Gary V Talks and startup manifestos.

A Web of Inspiration

Palmer, Hill, and Hubbard formed a triangle of influence, with Palmer as the fulcrum. Hill’s 1921–1922 teachings at The Fountainhead bridged Palmer’s chiropractic mission with the burgeoning motivational thought movement, while Hubbard’s earlier friendship seeded Palmer’s rhetorical style. Their motivational languages (Palmer’s bold evangelism, Hill’s structured optimism, Hubbard’s poetic urgency) complemented each other, creating a synergy that transcended their fields.

• Palmer and Hill: Their collaboration in the 1920s was a meeting of minds at a formative moment. Hill gained a platform to test his ideas; Palmer gained a voice to amplify his school’s reach. Their shared stage fostered a cross-pollination of success principles.
• Palmer and Hubbard: Though separated by Hubbard’s 1915 death, their pre-1920 bond shaped Palmer’s approach. Hubbard’s literary spark likely fueled Palmer’s own penchant for memorable phrases, strengthening his leadership at The Fountainhead.
• Lasting Echoes: Together, they prefigured modern motivational thought. Palmer’s chiropractic empire, Hill’s self-help empire, and Hubbard’s literary legacy converge in today’s focus on vision, action, and personal growth. From corporate retreats quoting Hill to leadership seminars nodding to Hubbard, their voices (amplified through Palmer’s Davenport hub) still guide us.

B.J. Palmer’s relationships with Napoleon Hill and Elbert Hubbard were more than chance encounters. Today, as we chase success and meaning, their influence shines through—proof that the right connections, at the right time, can change the world.