In 1922, Napoleon Hill was invited to give the commencement address at Salem College in Salem, West Virginia. He was 39 years old at the time, and he spoke of what he had learned from his failures in life up to that point.

His personal adventures in the business world illustrated for the students the cyclical nature of success and failure as well as the lessons one can take away from each of life's experiences. Titled The End of the Rainbow, this commencement address is considered to be the most influential speech ever given by Hill.