If I were to
list my favorite authors, the list would include Mark Twain, for obvious
reasons; John Gresham, for his storytelling abilities; and John Feinstein, for
his reporting skills and mastery of insight into the sports world. I have read
many books by each of these outstanding authors.
But I have a new
favorite, one who has shouldered aside some of these other writers and thinkers.
He is Jim Rohn, a long-time favorite of the business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Rohn, who
passed away in 2009 at the age of 79, began his career as a farm boy from
Idaho. At the age of 25, “way behind of
my big-mouthed promises to my family,” he began to learn the wisdom of sound business
practices and personal development. After considerable success in the direct
selling industry, he began a career as a speaker and motivator. His books, CDs
and web site have influenced thousands – maybe millions – with his humor,
homespun style and hard-earned wisdom.
I recently
finished “The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle” and am listening to his CD
series “The Challenge of Success” for at least the fifth time. If I am driving
any distance, I like to pop a personal development disc into the CD player in
my car. Rohn’s messages are one of my
favorites. Most people I talk to who own their own small businesses, or are
entrepreneurs, have been blessed by his wisdom. Darren Hardy, the publisher of
SUCCESS magazine, and Anthony Powell, the leader in my current business
enterprise, are also big fans of Rohn.
I probably
have 50 quotes from Rohn in my list of favorite sayings related to business and
successful living. Here’s five of them in no particular order:
The
fundamentals of success are easy to do. But they are also easy NOT to do.
A little reading
each day will result in a wealth of valuable information in a very short period
of time. But if we fail to set aside the time, if we fail to pick up the book,
if we fail to exercise the discipline, then ignorance will quickly move in to
fill the void.
Those who
seek a better life must first become a better person. They must continually seek after self-mastery
for the purpose of developing a balanced philosophy of life, and then life in
accordance with the dictates of that philosophy.
Small disciplines
lead to great accomplishments. When
average people give care and attention to important matters, their own growth
into greatness merely awaits the passage of time.
You must constantly ask yourself these
questions: “Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me
reading? What have they got me saying?
Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me
becoming?” Then ask yourself the big question: is that ok?
If I were to
list my favorite authors, the list would include Mark Twain, for obvious
reasons; John Gresham, for his storytelling abilities; and John Feinstein, for
his reporting skills and mastery of insight into the sports world. I have read
many books by each of these outstanding authors.
But I have a new
favorite, one who has shouldered aside some of these other writers and thinkers.
He is Jim Rohn, a long-time favorite of the business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Rohn, who
passed away in 2009 at the age of 79, began his career as a farm boy from
Idaho. At the age of 25, “way behind of
my big-mouthed promises to my family,” he began to learn the wisdom of sound business
practices and personal development. After considerable success in the direct
selling industry, he began a career as a speaker and motivator. His books, CDs
and web site have influenced thousands – maybe millions – with his humor,
homespun style and hard-earned wisdom.
I recently
finished “The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle” and am listening to his CD
series “The Challenge of Success” for at least the fifth time. If I am driving
any distance, I like to pop a personal development disc into the CD player in
my car. Rohn’s messages are one of my
favorites. Most people I talk to who own their own small businesses, or are
entrepreneurs, have been blessed by his wisdom. Darren Hardy, the publisher of
SUCCESS magazine, and Anthony Powell, the leader in my current business
enterprise, are also big fans of Rohn.
I probably
have 50 quotes from Rohn in my list of favorite sayings related to business and
successful living. Here’s five of them in no particular order:
The
fundamentals of success are easy to do. But they are also easy NOT to do.
A little reading
each day will result in a wealth of valuable information in a very short period
of time. But if we fail to set aside the time, if we fail to pick up the book,
if we fail to exercise the discipline, then ignorance will quickly move in to
fill the void.
Those who
seek a better life must first become a better person. They must continually seek after self-mastery
for the purpose of developing a balanced philosophy of life, and then life in
accordance with the dictates of that philosophy.
Small disciplines
lead to great accomplishments. When
average people give care and attention to important matters, their own growth
into greatness merely awaits the passage of time.
