Jim Rohn

By Mr. Self Development

Jim Rohn was an American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. He’s been an inspiration to many leaders in the personal development field including Tony Robbins, Mark Hansen, Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield.

When Jim was 25 his life was in a rut, he was in debt, and he was uncertain as to how he would get out. During this time in his life he met John Shaoff. Jim joined John’s direct sales organization and began to work on his personal development. By age 31, Jim was a millionaire.

Jim has addressed over 6,000 audiences and 4 million people worldwide. He was the recipient of the 1985 National Speakers Association CPAE Award. Jim is also the author of 17 different books, audio and video programs.

7 Life Lessons from Jim Rohn:

1. You Attract Success

“Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.”

So few people realize this.  Success is not something that you chase, it’s something that you turn into.  Success comes from growth; it comes from growing bigger than the problems and obstacles that surround you.

Don’t search for success – commit to grow, commit to become, commit to do what you know to do, and you will attract success.

2. You Must Change

“Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”

If you want change, you must change!  You must work harder on yourself than you work on anything else.  The greatest investment you will ever make is in yourself.  Don’t invest in the stock market, if you haven’t first invested in yourself.  Labor to become a better person; everyday you want to be slightly better than you were the day before.

3. Never Give Up

“How long should you try? Until.”

Never give up.  If you just keep at it, eventually you will reach the top.  It probably won’t happen in a year, but just imagine what could be achieved if you stayed focused for 20 or 30 years, or longer.  When I say never give up, I don’t mean to imply that you should wait around for something to happen; what I’m saying is that you should make something happen.

Success is not that complicated.  I like what Jim said, “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”

4. Atmosphere is Critical

“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 okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

Who are you talking to?  Who are you listening to?  What seeds are being planted into your life?  Atmosphere is critical!  In order for your life to produce fruit, it must be planted in the right atmosphere.  You wouldn’t try to plant tomato seeds in the dessert because it’s not the right atmosphere for a tomato seed to produce.  Likewise, don’t try to become successful surrounded by negative people.  Create an atmosphere where you can flourish.  Learn to guard what you hear; guard what gets planted in your thoughts, so you can become all that you were destined to become.

5.  Steady Progress

“Success is steady progress toward one’s personal goals”

My mother use to say, “Slowly but surely.”  That’s exactly how your dreams come to pass when you commit to achieve them.  Nothing happens overnight, look at anyone who’s successful.  It’s taken them years to get there, sometimes decades, don’t think you are any different.  If it took them years, don’t be surprised when it takes you years.  In other words, manage your expectations, so you don’t get disappointed unnecessarily.  Success is possible, but it won’t happen tomorrow, if you just began today.

Remember, success is not a single event; you don’t become a success in a moment.  Success comes from moving in the right direction every day.

6. Set Your Sail

“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”

Set your sail, or set your mind on what you want to accomplish.  It’s not the circumstances of life that determine where you end up, it’s your commitment to arrive at your intended destination that determines your success.

7. Learn to See the Value of Time

“Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you cannot ever get more time.”

There is nothing more valuable than time.  You can sow your time and get anything you want.  You can sow your time and get more friends, more money, or better health.  Nothing is more priceless than time, so never waste this precious gift.  I’ve never met a rich man who didn’t value his time, and I’ve never met a poor man who did.

Learn to see the value of time because with time, anything can be accomplished!