Norval A. Hawkins

Norval A. Hawkins was an American business writer and sales executive born in 1867 and died in 1936. He is remembered today mainly for Certain Success and other books about selling, self-improvement, and business discipline, written in a direct, encouraging style aimed at ambitious readers.

Before becoming known as an author, Hawkins built a notable career in industry. Reliable historical sources describe him as an accountant and sales leader connected with Ford Motor Company, where he helped organize sales and distribution and played an important role during the company’s rapid early expansion. He is also credited with helping launch Ford Times, a company publication used as both an internal and promotional tool.

His life story was not entirely straightforward. Modern historical research notes that, alongside his business success and writing career, he was also involved in a Standard Oil embezzlement case earlier in life. That mix of achievement, setback, and reinvention gives his books an interesting edge: they come from someone who knew both the promise and the pressure of American business culture firsthand.