Driving for success? Jim Rohn was there with you
Author’s note: The great Jim Rohn passed away not long ago. Millions of people had the honor of watching him in a live presentation. I was fortunate to have been one of them. Tens of millions more own, or have listened to, his recordings and have read his books. I am fortunate to be one of them. Please enjoy this column I wrote after attending my 10th live Jim Rohn event. And please visit www.jimrohn.com.
The root of your success lies in your philosophy. How did you develop yours? Mine came from a combination of home environment, books, education, mentors, personal development programs, personal experience, and observations.
You establish and revise your philosophies by exposure to information, your experiences, and listening to the beliefs of others—especially those whom you respect. You try to only accept “the good stuff” and then adapt it to (or change) your way of life.
While you may believe that you determine your own philosophy, much of it is pre-determined or influenced by your home environment during childhood. After that, it’s up to you to seek influencers and mentors—people who impact the way you think, and create the motivation that drives your actions.
One of my most respected influencers is Jim Rohn, considered by many to be America’s foremost business philosopher. As I was reviewing the notes I’ve taken at his events over the past five years, I was craving a little inspiration, and look what I found.
I rediscovered hundreds of “morsels of wisdom” and reconfirmed why I can’t wait to see him again.
Here are some philosophical quotes and concepts that drive Jim Rohn, and may put gas in your sales-engine:
Balance. Life is a combination of “want to” and “how to,” and we need to give equal attention to both.
Activity. The few who do are the envy of the many who watch.
Career Growth. The most important question to ask on the job is not “What am I getting?” The most important question to ask is “What am I becoming?”
Goals. Set goals that will make something good of you.
Reality. You must get good at one of two things: Planting in the spring, or begging in the fall.
Motive to Educate. Motivation alone is not enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate him, now you have a motivated idiot.
Personal Development. Formal education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune.
Hypocrisy. What we demand from our children, we must demand of ourselves. There must be a standard by which our children live—and as parents, we must set it—and live it.
Wrong-way motivation. If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up; he needs education to turn him around.
The nose on your face. Success is the study of the obvious.
Work vs. Pay. If you work at your job you’ll make a living. If you work on yourself, you will earn a fortune. Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.
Numbers. Get your personal numbers in line with your business numbers. Balance career numbers with education numbers and health numbers.
Wealth. I found it easier to get rich than I did to make excuses.
Pay. You don’t get paid for the hour. You really get paid for the value you bring to that hour.
Paid. My father taught me always to do more than you’re paid for as an investment in your future.
Customers. One good customer well-taken-care-of could be as valuable as $10,000 worth of advertising.
Happiness. Learn to be truly happy with what you have while you pursue what you really want.
Planning. If you don’t make plans of your own, you will probably fit into someone else’s.
Jim Rohn is the master of the crafted word. He takes the situations of life that are the subtle difference between success, mediocrity and dismal failure—and empowers his listeners to understand their own world in a new, better, and more powerful way. Sitting in his audience or playing his CDs, one is compelled to take copious notes—and has the paradox of just wanting to listen to his mellow voice of wisdom.
I hope you expose yourself to him. 
Return to Ingram's February 2010
Jeffrey Gitomer is author of The Little Red Book of Selling and The Little Red Book of Sales Answers.
P | 704.333.1112
E | salesman@gitomer.com