Why?

Here is another video clip from the great man himself, the late Jim Rohn.  It lasts just three and a half minutes.  For some reason the person who uploaded it left a couple more minutes of blank tape at the end.  But those three and a half minutes, asking the question "why?", will blow your mind!



If you would like to have Jim Rohn as your mentor, you can, even though he is no longer with us.  Subscribe now to his "One Year Success Plan".

Book Review

Parables of Success

For those of us who are Christian, our minds are turning this month to the birth of Jesus, a wonderful story teller.  Jesus knew that the best way to get his audience to internalise the truths he wanted to teach them was to tell them those truths in parables.  The Sufi mystic Nasrudin, or Nasreddin Hodja, adopted a similar approach.  In fact, you will find story telling to make the faithful realise a universal truth is integral to most religions.

I felt now would therefore be a very good time to focus on stories that encapsulate some simple truths we should all internalise on our journey of personal development.

Click on the title of any book that particularly interests you and you can buy it right away.  If you want to pay in pounds sterling, or have it shipped from the UK instead of from the States, click on the "UK link" right at the end of each review.

The Richest Man in Babylon

by

George S. Clason

A review of personal development parables could do no better than to begin with George S. Clason's classic, The Richest Man in Babylon.  This book has led generations to personal and monetary success.  If you have not yet read it and have any interest in improving your financial situation, do not let 2013 fade without doing so!

"This book teaches financial lessons through stories. Every point is illustrated through a tale that explains exactly why certain things need to be done when investing your money.

It's specific advice along with a neat little story proving how it works in real life. This is a crucial point with me and all business advice. If it's not practical and makes sense in reality then it's useless fluff that may sound good but isn't useful at all. And let's face it, finance isn't an area where you want to learn by trial and error using bad advice.

The investment strategies that applied back then are still as applicable today as they were back when this was first written. No nonsense, tired and true business advice. That's what made this a hit for me."

-    Shelby


"A MUST READ for all ages. Clason emphasizes that it is never too late to improve your financial situation. Short stories in the book bring to life the significance of developing a plan to save for the future and/or get out of debt. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this book. The concepts are powerful and relevant."

-    DMerryM


"I read this book 35 years ago when starting out in business and its teachings are timeless. It was written in 1929. The principles have taken good care of me all my adult life. If the young (and the not so young) would apply its teachings then the world would not be in the financial mess it is in today."

-    aspedd

UK Link

Look Ma, Life's Easy

by

Ernie J. Zelinski

This novel is a Kindle edition.  It presents a story of personal transformation that will inspire ordinary individuals to feel they can truly achieve extraordinary results in their lives.

"This is a classic personal development book on par with Think and Grow Rich in its impact, depth and usefulness.

The book is part story and part personal development wisdom. The two intertwine perfectly.

The premise of the book is that if you do the hard things in life today your life will be much easier because you will achieve great things and you won't be stuck with the same old problems. It sounds simple, and it is, but the author depicts clearly how this little rule applies to every area of life and how powerfully and immediately it can bring positive change to your life.

I will be reading this book over and over to glean it's wisdom and improve my life even more."

-    Tom Corson-Knowles
Best-selling author of Rich By 22: How To Achieve Business Success At An Early Age


"I'm a fan of Ernie Zelinski. I like his writing style, his humor, and his grasp of humanity. In this fable, Ernie, through his characters, is our cheerleader, our guide, our shrink, and our mentor. He points the way to becoming our best self by asking us to question our assumptions, work hard, to delay gratification, and dump the victim mentality.

His pearls of wisdom throughout the book are even in a different color and font, so they can't be missed. For example: "The past is a nice place to visit. But you better not make it your home." Or, "Just as important as deciding what you want in life is deciding what you don't want."

If you're looking for a roadmap to inspire and change you, one that goes down easy but packs a wallop, get a copy of Look Ma, Life's Easy."

-    Jan Cullinane


"Where has this little gem been hiding, this really is an excellent book from Ernie Zelinski, more people should be aware of it. I especially like the line at the start of the book: "You can disappear into the mainstream, or you can be true to yourself and swim against the current". This sets the tone early on for what becomes an adventure of self-discovery. It is a compulsive and inspirational read, and you won't read it only once, you will refer back to its wisdom time and again."

-    A. Reilly

UK Link

Twelve Pillars

by

Jim Rohn & Chris Widener

This novel will inspire you to take your life to the next level and beyond. It will challenge and encourage you to become the best that you can be!

I have sourced a hardcover version here which is cheaper than the paperback version I found on Amazon.  If you want it shipped from the States, be sure, therefore, to click on the link in the title rather than simply going straight to Amazon to find it.


"I am not an easy sell when it comes to financial self-help books because many of them want you to do things that are improbable, or impossible, at certain times in your life. However, this books focuses on making you a successful person inside before starting the outside (material) successes. I really liked that because I believe many people think money will buy them happiness; this book shows that you must first be happy inside to be able to enjoy your outside (material) success."

-    Stacy Howett (BROOKHAVEN, PA, United States)


""Twelve Pillars" is one of my favorite books. The author successfully presents nonfiction self growth content in a novel-style. I've red it several times, and every time I tuned up to tears at the end."

-    Dr. Irina Koles, author of Taste of Thoughts: Improve Your Health and Whole Life


"This is an excellent book for people that want to do something more with their lives than just live a day to day existence. I will recommend this book to all of my friends."

-    Blondie

UK Link

The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin / The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin

by

Idries Shah

This is actually two books in one, and includes 100 short aphorisms by the Mulla.  Great to dip into when you only have a few moments.  And great to allow the humour to insert some real truths into your psyche!

It is difficult to describe Nasrudin's style without actually seeing it, so here is an example:

"If you want truth", Nasrudin told a group of Seekers who had come to hear his teachings, "you will have to pay for it."

"But why should you have to pay for something like truth?" asked one of the company.

"Have you noticed", said Nasrudin, "that it is the scarcity of a thing which determines its value?"


Other reviewers' comments:


"One is immediately forced to use one's mind in a new way."

-    New York Times


"(Nasrudin's) antics are parallels of the mind's workings"

-    The Observer, England


"Idries Shah popularized religious teaching stories of the "righteous fool" variety in his three books of Nasrudin stories. The tales themselves come from Rumi, Attar and a host of other sources - written and oral. While I recommend both Rumi and Attar, the retelling of the stories in a concise and oral telling style is a gift to the reader - one is impacted by the story itself and not distracted by the form of the story (poetry of Rumi) or by the frame story (as in Attar).

One should read these stories one at a time and reflect on them as you would a koan, if you wish to treat them as "spiritually beneficial". But they are also enjoyable as a quick read for laughs."

-    M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA)

I was unable to source this title at a reasonable price in the UK.  My UK readers should click the title and buy from the States.

Self Esteem

In my humble opinion Jim Rohn, who died at the end of 2009, was one of the world's greatest teachers of success principles.  In this video he expounds on the benefits of what he terms "intelligent self interest".  Doing things that others may think silly, but that increase your self esteem.  Put this into practice and you will be a better person:



If you would like to have Jim Rohn as your mentor, you can, even though he is no longer with us.  Subscribe now to his "One Year Success Plan".

Your Philosophy

Jim Rohn: Your Philosophy

an original article by Jim Rohn

"Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."

If you want to know how an Idaho farm boy can make it to Beverly Hills, then take the journey toward achievement by discovering the cornerstone for total and lasting success: building your philosophy. I was broke at 25 and a millionaire by 31. At 25, there was nothing in my bank and I needed to provide for my family. As I was considering what to do, I met John Earl Shoaff, a wealthy entrepreneur who became my employer for the next five years. He revolutionized my life and taught me the importance of developing my philosophy. It isn’t a complex or mystical process, but a principle that can make a difference in how your life turns out. As we go forward on this journey toward success, remember you need to keep looking for those few things that make the most difference in your life, and spend most of your time doing those things. Effective time management is the best-kept secret of the rich. While there are five major puzzle pieces for success, without the first — developing a sound philosophy — the other pieces are of little value.

 

Set Your Sail

The winds of circumstance blow upon all of us. We all have experienced the winds of disappointment, despair and heartbreak, but why do people arrive at such different places at the end of the journey? Have we not all sailed upon the same sea?

The major difference isn’t circumstance; it’s the set of the sail, or the way we think.

In spite of our best efforts, we have moments when things just seem to fall apart. The rich and the poor have the same challenges that can lead to financial ruin and personal despair. It isn’t what happens to us that determines the quality of our lives, it’s what we do after we’ve set our sails and the wind decides to change direction. When winds change, we must change. We have to struggle to our feet and reset the sail in a manner that will steer us in the direction of our own deliberate choice. The set of the sail, how we think and how we respond, has a far greater capacity to destroy our lives than any challenges we face. How quickly we respond to adversity is far more important than adversity itself. The great challenge of life is to control the process of our own thinking.

Learn From Success and Failure

The best way to establish a new and powerful personal philosophy is to objectively review the conclusions you’ve drawn about life. Any conclusion you’ve drawn that isn’t working for you could be working against you. The best way to counteract misinformation and wrong data is to input new and accurate information. Gather information from personal experience. If you’re doing something wrong, evaluate what you did wrong and change things.

Seek an objective, outside voice about how you are and what you’re doing. An objective opinion from someone you respect can lead you to early and accurate information about your decision-making process. Listen to the freshness of an outside voice — someone who can see the forest and isn’t lost in the trees.

Observe the successes and failures of other people. If people who failed were to give seminars, it would be helpful. You could see how people mess up and you wouldn’t do what they did. You could find out what poor people read and decide not to read it. Past failures and errors prompt us to amend current conduct so we don’t replicate the past.

Study from people who do well. Each of us should be in a constant search for people we admire and respect and whose behavior we can model. It’s far better to deliberately choose the people we will permit to influence us than to allow bad influences to affect us without our conscious choice.

 

Read All You Can

People from all walks of life who’ve had some of the most incredible experiences have taken the time to write of these experiences so we can be instructed and amend our philosophies. There are two books you need to read to build your philosophy: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. The contributions of other people enable us to reset our sails based upon their experiences. Books offer treasures of information that can change our lives, fortunes, relationships, health and careers for the better.

 

Keep a Journal

A journal is a gathering place for all of our observations and discoveries about life. It’s our own handwritten transcript that captures our experiences, ideas, desires and conclusions about the people and the events that have touched our lives. The past, when properly documented, is one of the best guides for making good decisions. The very act of writing about our lives helps us think more objectively about our actions. Writing tends to slow down the flow of information and gives us time to analyze and ponder the experience. The intense scrutiny of journal writing can enable us to make refinements in our philosophy that are truly life-changing.

Jot down what you learn and be a buyer of empty books. It’s the small disciplines that lead to great accomplishments.

 

Observe and Listen

Pay attention during your day, watch what’s going on and become a good listener. Find a voice of value and stay for a while. Surround yourself with people you respect and admire. Find people whose personalities and achievements stimulate, fascinate and inspire you, and then strive to assimilate their best qualities. This is called the skill of selecting. Don’t waste your time on the silly and the shallow.

One of the major reasons people don’t do well is because they keep trying to get through the day while a more worthy cause is to get from the day. We must become sensitive enough to observe and ponder what is happening around us. Be alert. Be awake. Often the most extraordinary opportunities are hidden among seemingly insignificant events.

Be a good listener. With so many voices vying for your attention, you need to develop the skill of selective listening and only dial into the radio station that appeals to you. If a voice is not leading to the achievement of your goals, exercise caution in how long you listen.

 

Be Disciplined

Every day is filled with dozens of personal crossroads, moments when we’re called upon to make a decision regarding minor as well as major questions. These decisions chart a path to a future destination. With careful mental preparation, we can make wise choices. The development of a sound philosophy prepares us for making sound decisions. When we eat healthy foods, we experience positive results in a short time. When we start exercising, we feel a new vitality almost immediately. When we begin reading, we experience a growing awareness and a new level of self-confidence. New disciplines practiced daily will produce exciting results. The magic of new disciplines causes us to amend our thinking.

 

Don’t Neglect

Neglect is the major reason people don’t have what they want. If you don’t take care of things in your life, neglect becomes a disease. If you neglect to do good things with your money, you probably neglect to do good things with your time. If you don’t know what’s going on with your health or your bank account, you could be at risk. Set up new disciplines to change your life. Don’t neglect.

Everything is within our reach if we will read books, use journals, practice the disciplines and wage a new and vigorous battle against neglect.

Build your philosophy. Commit yourself to a new journey and say, “I’m going to change my life.” Once you do, you’ll never look back.

Personal Development

What you have now, you have attracted by the person you have become.

Watch this video by Jim Rohn now and find out how you can change what you will attract in the future.