Successful Living with Jim Rohn
My name is John, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to my blog. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. In this episode, I like to share with you, "A Complete Guide on How to Make Your Life Better by Jim Rohn"
"Life only gets better if you get better,"
So, please bear with me as I share with you some of my thoughts on Personal Development and Success that I learned from Jim.
Jim says, "I wish for you a life of wealth, health and happiness; a life in which you give to yourself the gift of patience, the virtue of reason, the value of knowledge, and the influence of faith in your own ability to dream about and to achieve worthy rewards."
The following is an excerpt from one of Jim's seminars in his own words:
One day my mentor, Mr. Earl Shoaff, said to me, “Jim, if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well: Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” I must admit that this was the most challenging assignment of all. This business of personal development lasts a lifetime.
You see, what you become is far more important than what you get. The important question to ask on the job is not, “What am I getting?” Instead, you should ask, “What am I becoming?” What you become directly influences what you get. Think of it this way: Most of what you have today, you have attracted by becoming the person you are today.
I’ve also found that income rarely exceeds personal development. Sometimes income takes a lucky jump, but unless you learn to handle the responsibilities that come with it, it will usually shrink back to the amount you can handle.
It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development. So here’s the great axiom of life:
To have more than you’ve got, become more than you are.
Here’s the great challenge of life: You can have more than you’ve got because you can become more than you are.
I have found that income seldom will exceed your own personal development. Once in a while income takes a lucky jump, but unless you grow out to where it is, it will go back to where you are. Somebody once said if you took all the money in the world and divided it equally among everyone, it would soon be back in the same pockets.
However, you can have more because you can become more. You see, here is how the other side of the coin reads: Unless you change how you are, you will always have what you’ve got. The major thing that makes the difference is what you do—it is the human effort that counts.
In order to have more, you need to become more. The guy says, “If I had a good job I would really pour it on, but I have this lousy job so I just goof off.” If that is your philosophy, you are destined to stay there. Some people say, “If I had a lot of money, I would be really generous, but I don’t have much, so I’m not generous.” See, you’ve got to change that philosophy or you will never have “the lots of money.”
Unless you change, it won’t change. Amazingly, however, when we throw out our blame list and start becoming more ourselves, the difference is everything else will begin to change around us.
Skills for Success in the Marketplace
The market is a demanding environment. There is plenty of opportunity, but you must prepare and get ready for it. We must devote a portion of this year to preparing for next year, as well as a portion of this decade to preparing for the next decade. Hopefully, the reason we're here, looking good and doing okay, is that we spent a good chunk of the previous decade getting ready for this one.
A significant portion of one's life is spent getting ready, and part of that preparation includes the development of marketable skills. Personal development, self-improvement, and measurable progress are the first steps.
Personal Development is a Difficult Task
Personal growth is a struggle. It's a battle. It's a difficult task. Without a challenge, there would be no way to win. That is the essence of life. It's the struggle and the challenge of improving ourselves and our skills in order to see what kind of value we can add to the marketplace. It's about putting those skills and value to work in the marketplace and seeing what we can get in return.
New habits are difficult to form, but they can be learned. It's not always easy to change your mind when you've built up a lot of momentum in one direction, but it is possible. It isn't simple, but it is doable. "Success is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration," someone once said. All you have to do now is read the books, learn the skills, put yourself through the paces, perform mental pushups, and get ready.
Inspiration is great, but it must be followed by discipline. It's one thing to be motivated, but it's quite another to be sufficiently motivated to attend classes, read, repeat, and go over material until it becomes second nature. And those are difficulties. They're not easy, but they're challenges that determine your position, your return, your equity, and the value you receive from the marketplace if you win and develop and grow.
3 Parts of Personal Development
I’ve divided personal development into three parts.
1. Spiritual
Some people believe that humans are simply an evolved form of the animal species, but I believe that we are unique. Our spiritual qualities, I believe, distinguish us from all other creations. Now, I consider myself a novice in this field, but regardless of your experience, I believe you should consider what kind of growth and change you want to see in this crucial area. Spiritual and ethical values will aid in the construction of a solid foundation for your pursuit of wealth and happiness.
I think it's a good idea for you to study your spiritual side. Make certain that you study, practice, and instruct. Do not take this lightly because it is what distinguishes us from dogs, cats, birds, and mice. I strongly advise you to read and assimilate whatever you need to in order to advance in this area.
2. Physical fitness
The mind and body are in sync. And, in order for your mind to be able to strive, your body must be in the best possible shape.
"Treat your body like a temple," as the saying goes. A temple is not a derogatory term. Something you'd take exceptional care of. Isn't it true that you should treat your body like a temple rather than a barn? It's a temple. Take excellent care of it.
The physical body is the only home we have, and success in the marketplace depends on it. That is the definition of physical well-being. It's about feeling good about yourself physically so you can walk into the marketplace with a sense of self-worth and self-confidence, and it's a multifaceted concept.
Do you go to the gym on a regular basis? If you don't have one, find one and get started. Additionally, pay attention to the food you consume. Read as many nutrition books as you can to form your own opinion and determine a good health plan for yourself.
Then there's the matter of appearance. Be able to maintain a professional appearance in the marketplace. It has a lot to do with your willingness to accept it. How you appear to others—on the job, in the community—is a big part of it. "God looks on the inside, and people look on the outside," as the saying goes. That is not a bad suggestion, implying that you should take care of the inside for God and the outside for people. Perhaps you believe that people should not judge you based on your appearance. Let me tell you, they certainly do! Don't live your life based on what you should and shouldn't do. Only live your life based on facts. Sure, as people get to know you, they'll judge you on more than just what they see, but they'll start with a glance.
Now I'll give you another good phrase. "Be aware of yourself, but not aware of yourself," it says. There comes a time when we must be aware of ourselves, take care of it, and then let it go. Some people spend their entire day worrying about their appearance, which detracts rather than adds. So look after it for a while and then let it go. Do your best and trust that it will suffice. Be aware of ourselves, but not so much that we become self-aware.
3. Mental
The mind—stretching your mind, developing good thinking habits, good study habits, pursuing ideas, and trying to find ways to apply them to human behavior and the marketplace—is the third component of personal development. All of this necessitates mental exercise, which I refer to as mind-stretch.
Your willingness to take on difficult subjects that most people have chosen to ignore gives you a significant competitive advantage. How can you master the high-level, extraordinary skills that distinguish you as a standout performer in the market? It necessitates mental expansion. Some people avoid poetry and literature, as well as the Bible, history, and a variety of other subjects that appear to be difficult to tackle. However, if you always back away from something that appears difficult at first, you will become weak. In the marketplace, you leave yourself unprepared. So don't be afraid to take on the tough challenges. Once you get into it and learn skill after skill, it might be a lot easier than you think.
Learning the opposing viewpoint is another aspect of mind-stretching. Don't be afraid of the other side of the argument, whether you're debating in the spiritual, political, physical, or behavioral realms. You can handle it if you're mentally strong, and you have to give people credit for their points of view. Even if you disagree with them, you must admit that they made an excellent point.
Can you imagine what you could become if you made a conscious effort to broaden your horizons? Imagine the skills you'll gain and the insights you'll gain.
4 Keys to Unlock the Power of Your Mind
You will expand your mind if you feed and stimulate your brain. Both of them are inextricably linked. The human brain and mind must be viewed with wonder and inspiration.
The brain is the human version of a supercomputer. It's more complicated than any computer ever created, and maximizing its capabilities is crucial to becoming the successful person you want to be—because it controls who you are. It is the command center that is involved in and controls everything you do, determining your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Simply put, when your brain is performing at its best, it allows you to be your best because it is in charge of everything else.
Genes, self-talk, life experiences, stress, and study are some of the basic influences on the brain that shape how it functions and develops. Although these factors have an impact on the brain, they have no bearing on how far you can progress or what you can learn. To put it another way, you have an incredible opportunity to travel as far as you want.
So, with such a powerful tool at our disposal, why aren't more people taking advantage of the opportunities it provides? There are a few simple barriers that, if you let them, can wreak havoc on your learning, but you can overcome them. The key to breaking down these walls is to do the exact opposite...
1. Alter your mindset.
Many people doubt their ability to learn, master information, or become "smart." For many people, these are deeply held beliefs, and if we don't believe it, we won't achieve it.
So alter your mindset. It is up to you to put in the effort to alter your beliefs. And when you do, you'll be literally opening up new worlds! Fill your mind with information that will cause you to reconsider your beliefs. The truth is that you have a phenomenal mind with a learning capacity that exceeds your wildest dreams. You have to believe it. And when you do, you'll be unleashing your mind's full potential.
2. Acquire the necessary knowledge.
Some people are unable to learn because they refuse to access or do not have access to knowledge. Experiences, books, people, and other "knowledge dispensers" are all sources of knowledge. We need to make use of that knowledge.
So learn what you need to know. Words have no meaning unless they are true. "I read it in a book," I hear kids say. Is this, however, correct? It is not true just because someone says or writes something. You want to get the right knowledge, not just information or opinions, as a learner. It is your responsibility to seek out information and knowledge, test it, and think about it to see if it is correct, and if it can be applied to your life to improve it and help you succeed. To gain the correct knowledge, you must weigh and measure what you learn. And when you do, you'll be unleashing your mind's full potential.
3. Develop a strong desire to learn.
Some people simply lack the motivation to learn. They may be lazy, or they may not recognize the benefits of learning. They don't have any internal motivation to learn.
As a result, develop a passion for learning. This will take some effort, but the only way to do so is to start learning about topics that have a direct impact on your life. You will become enthused when you learn about a new financial concept that will help you earn money or get out of debt. You will be inspired when you learn how to interact with your family in a healthy manner and your relationships improve. Develop a passion for learning. And when you do, you'll be unleashing your mind's full potential.
4. Develop self-discipline through hard work of study.
Learning is difficult and takes a lifetime to master. It's a never-ending process of self-discipline.
So, through hard work and study, discipline yourself. It will take effort to learn. You're on your own until someone develops modules that can plug into your mind and give you instant access to knowledge, and that takes time. Learning is a long and winding road. Yes, we can speed it up, but it's still a process of reading, listening, reviewing, repetition, application, experiencing the results, readjusting, and so on. To put it another way, it takes time. When you discipline yourself, you gain knowledge and learn slowly but steadily. And when you do, you'll be unleashing your mind's full potential.
No matter how old you are, you can learn. There is no such thing as being too young or too old. Your mind was built to learn and has an enormous capacity for it. Make a commitment to unlocking your mind's potential right now!
Your Personal Development Library
Creating a personal development library, as Mr. Shoaff call it, he got Jim started early when he was 25 . "I pass it along to you to be self-educated," he said to Jim.
When you graduate from university, your education does not end. Education is a lifelong endeavor. To learn, you must continue to put yourself through the paces. This is how you get into the higher income brackets. That's how you break into the upper ranks of the business. That is how you can become a more useful, productive, and valuable citizen, contributing to your family, community, country, and business. Work hard to improve these abilities and educate yourself.
"Standard education gets you standard results," Mr. Shoaff told Jim. Why not go above and beyond the standard, average, and acceptable to become the privileged, extraordinary, or extra-capable? What's to stop you? Mr. Shoaff say that there is a lot more to life than getting a job, and working hard. Why don't you learn some amazing skills? Why don't you try advancing to the next level?
Some people are only interested in self-improvement, self-help, and inspirational topics, but you can't live solely on mental candy. That is insufficient. Like the pantry in your kitchen, your library must be well-balanced. You can't just rely on the easy stuff to be strong. History, biographies, and autobiographies should all be studied. Examine people who have done extraordinary things, both good and bad. We must be both students and teachers.
All of the books we'll ever need to become as wealthy, healthy, happy, powerful, sophisticated, and successful as we desire have already been written. People from all walks of life, people with some of the most incredible life experiences, people who have gone from rags to riches and from failure to success, have taken the time to write down their stories so that we can benefit from their wisdom.
Reading is a critical component in the development of a solid philosophical foundation. And, in my opinion, it is one of the prerequisites for achieving success and happiness.
4 Steps to Success
Jim's 4 steps to success for personal development.
1. Good Ideas
The life seeds of business are ideas.
The pursuit of good ideas leads to a better life. Never give up on your pursuit of knowledge. Finding new ideas can be a life-changing experience. Nothing is more powerful than a well-timed idea, whether it's a business idea, a social idea, or a personal idea. Be on the lookout for good ideas, whether they're timely, political, family-friendly, or healthy. Then follow my lead: Keep a diary. Keep a running list of good ideas. That is reserved for serious students. I used to scribble notes on scraps of paper and discovered that I couldn't go through them, couldn't catalog them, and that I was missing out on a lot of interesting information. As a result, I learned to keep track of good ideas in a journal. It's a supplement to your existing learning library.
2. Well-designed plans
Be a student of well-thought-out strategies. Plans are important because they help people come up with new ideas. Plans help bring ideas to market. Plans that are well-executed bring ideas to life. Ideas without plans linger on the wall like an artist's rendering. They never come to pass. They are never given substance. As a result, be a student of good planning. Make well-thought-out, disciplined plans. Riches do not come from crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. Riches and wealth are the result of meticulous planning.
3. The Effects of Time
We must all learn to manage our time. Learning to wait is one of life's most difficult tasks. Patience—the passage of time—is an important part of success. Building a career takes time. Making changes takes time. Learning, growing, changing, developing, and producing take time. Philosophy and activity take time to perfect. So give yourself time to learn, time to gain momentum, and finally time to succeed.
4. Problem-solving
Solving problems is the essence of success. There are various types of issues: business issues, family issues, personal issues, financial issues, and emotional issues. Everyone has a laundry list of issues. The origins of enterprise can be traced back to problem-solving. It's how you establish your value and wealth.
I had the opportunity to meet Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. He stated it succinctly. He claimed that going to the moon and back was just a matter of figuring out how to solve problems. The first issue is figuring out how to get there. The second issue is how to get back. Isn't that simple? Make sure you don't leave until you've figured out both problems, he said. Well said. Sure, some things are difficult, but if you take it one step at a time—solve the problems, put it back together—you'll be amazed at the business, the life, and the skills you can create. Take it one step at a time, master it, and then reassemble it to solve the problem.
Put Your Ideas on Paper
Acquire the ability to solve problems on paper. You'll need to write down some of your ideas. It's far too easy to make mistakes if you only deal in your head all of the time. So grab a piece of paper and spend a few minutes sketching out the problem. Instead of just thinking about it, write down what's on your mind and work it out. It aids concentration. It assists you in focusing.
Now, when you've stated the problem to the best of your ability, all you have to say is this: Is that all there is to it? We're not supposed to dwell on problems, you say. We're not supposed to dwell on them or live in them, but you do have to state them. Because you won't be able to solve them until they've been clearly defined.
3 Easy Questions
The solution to a problem can be broken down into three simple questions.
1. What options do I have?
What options do I have for resolving the issue? What options do I have? This is when you begin to create what we refer to as working papers. So, here's possible answer number one, you say. That is a response. The second possible answer is a possibility. That's a possibility for number three. You simply begin laying out potential solutions. Then you go back and look at the solutions again. What's number three? You've already determined that it will take too long. Okay, what about number two? A question mark that is far too large. It's most likely number one. Your gut instinct was correct.
Examine that some more to see if that's it.
2. What am I able to read?
Writing down problems is the first step in solving them. The next step is to create working papers outlining potential solutions. If that doesn't work, move on to the next question: What am I able to read? Perhaps there is a book about your issue. Someone could have spent a lifetime trying to solve this issue. If you take the time to look, you might be able to benefit from this person's advice right away. Perhaps it's written succinctly somewhere. There's no need to start from scratch. You might just find the answer if you do your homework.
3. Who can I ask?
If that doesn't work, I'll move on to the third question: Who can I ask? Now, don't be afraid to ask, but here's a hint: Do not inquire first. You won't develop the problem-solving skills you need if you always ask. What is more valuable than a problem-solving solution? The ability to solve problems. The solution to a problem is only temporary, but problem-solving abilities last a lifetime. So we don't just need answers; we also need skills. If you've tried everything you can and still can't figure it out, bring your notes with you when you ask for help. People will go out of their way to help you if they know you're willing to help yourself.
5 Skills That Help You Succeed in Business
In your quest for personal development, learn to focus on these five abilities. They'll assist you in successfully attacking the market.
1. Absorb
Develop the ability to absorb, to soak up, to take in, to absorb information like a sponge. It's easy to daydream, be preoccupied, and be somewhere else while sitting in class or at work.
Once upon a time, I came across an excellent article in Reader's Digest. "Wherever You Are, Be There" was the title. That was fantastic, in my opinion. Be present. Concentration. It's also crucial to pay attention when learning new skills. Take it all in.
The majority of people are just trying to get by. I've come up with a better goal for you: Learn how to get the most out of each day. Get away from it, not just through it. Soak it all in. Every day is a piece of the puzzle that is your life. Don't squander any. It should be handled with caution. See how much you can get out of a single day—how much advice, information, color, sight, and sound you can add to your worth, wealth, and mental equity.
2. Response
Develop the ability to respond, to be influenced by what you see, hear, and sense. Knowledge isn't the only factor in achieving success. Success is a result of gaining knowledge. Experience isn't the only factor in determining success. Success is an emotion born of experience. It is the emotional component that has such a significant impact on our lives, our future, and our success.
Responding to life entails allowing sad things to make you sad, happy things to make you happy, and perplexing things to perplex you. Allow yourself to be challenged by difficult situations. Respond.
I'm asking you to allow it to affect you, to make things happen to you. This increases your emotional bank account.
3. Reflect
Acquire the ability to reflect. Reflecting on what you've learned and experienced is another way to gain more value from what you've learned and experienced. Reflection is the act of going back over something.
Take a few minutes at the end of the day to go back and reflect on the day. If you can, find a quiet place to do so. What have you been up to? What exactly did you see? What exactly did you hear? What emotions did you experience? I'm telling you, if you just relive it, it will add multiplied value to you. If you just go back over the day you just had, it will be more valuable to your future.
Take a few hours and minutes at the end of the week, a half-day at the end of the month, and a weekend at the end of the year. Those are referred to as "reflection times." What's the point of going back?
Let me explain why: to increase the value of the past.
You will make your life more valuable if you take the time to review what's going on, review your decision-making, review the people you're with, review the actions you're taking, the decisions you're making, review everything, and go back through the feelings.
Why are you attempting to make your life valuable now?
The simple answer is to put it to good use in the future. That's what we call bright. Instead of just trying to get through one more day, one more week, we call that skillful, to make more out of your past, to have more value to invest in the future. It's about making the most of your past and putting it to work for you in the future.
4. Take action
Develop the ability to act, the ability to put your feelings and knowledge into action. Ideas, enterprise, and values are born from disciplined action. Ideas and dreams have no life unless they are put into action.
Disciplined activity is the most difficult of the arts to master in order to get you where you want to go. It doesn't always take much of a change of activity. Daily or weekly disciplines are small shifts in intelligent activity that lead to better results. Here's another way to think about it: You will undoubtedly arrive in ten years. The question is, where are you going? Now is the time to make preparations for the next ten years. Make a better plan.
What they do during the day now doesn't seem to matter to unsophisticated people. To sophisticated people, however, it makes a huge difference. The books you read, the actions you take, and the disciplines you practice on a daily basis are all activities that lead you somewhere, and we all need to examine where our daily activities lead us. Learning activities, mental activities, health disciplines, wealth disciplines, and culture disciplines are all derived from disciplines. Value is created when ideas are put into action in a systematic way.
5. Share
Humans have a one-of-a-kind ability to share. Sharing is a phenomenon, particularly in human life. It appears that when we share, we become bigger and better as a result.
It appears that if you share and give something away, you will have less. But there's a catch. You get more out of what you share. That is why it is referred to as a paradox. Sharing does not make you less of a person. You've been boosted.
If you have a child and you adore him, do you have to divide your love in half when a second child arrives? No, that is not the case. Increased capacity comes from some strange, mysterious source. Capacity, awareness, and uniqueness increase as a result of sharing with the first. So that's what I'd advise you to do: develop a gift for sharing.
There are numerous ways to share information. The first is through the gift of language. The study of communication, or how to influence others with words, is one of the most important studies for you.
With Good Communication, You Can Share
Have something constructive to say. You can't speak about something you don't understand. Speaking is similar to writing a check. When you're ready to speak, make sure you have a verbal check that will cash. And here's where communication really shines: what you say is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what you know. I'm sure we've all encountered people who quickly revealed more information than they actually knew. Make sure you finish your homework. Have something worthwhile to contribute? Have something constructive to say.
Here are some suggestions for effective sharing and communication.
Say it clearly.
Saying it in a unique way is part of the gift of language. Winston Churchill possessed a one-of-a-kind ability to transform the English language into a weapon of war. The words he wrote, the speeches he gave, and the language and style he used gave the free world such hope that the enemy was defeated quickly. However, the structure of the language, as well as the skill and gift of saying things well, played a role.
Consider who you're speaking to.
You only need to be interested enough in what you're saying to look around and see how you're doing. Acquire the ability to read your audience. That was something I had to learn. I was so engrossed in what I was saying at first that I'm sure the audience could have left and I wouldn't have noticed. But eventually, I learned to look up to see what was going on over here, in the back. Learning to read, see, and study the reflection of whomever you're communicating with was an eye-opening experience for me. That is a skill and an art.
Say it loudly and clearly.
Words that elicit strong emotions alter their meaning. When words are loaded with emotion and belief, courage, love, understanding, awareness, sympathy, concern, and being touched by someone, they have power. It will have a huge impact if you put more of that into what you say.
As a result, share your knowledge. You'd be surprised how much you can help someone simply by recommending a book. Recommend a poem to someone. Share a phrase or a word. "Hey, I just finished reading this, and I think you'll enjoy it," you say. "Hey, that had an impact on my life, and I'm glad you shared that with me," someone says after reading it. Then you begin to receive compliments.
When people tell you, "What you said made a difference for me," it's an incredible feeling. However, you do not need to give a lecture in front of thousands of people to receive the same kind of feedback. It's as simple as recommending a book or sharing an idea. "That book got me started," or "Wow, the things you said at breakfast that morning, wow, I've been thinking about that and I'm making some changes," someone says. You can feel the incredible joy that comes from exchanging ideas.
Remember that what you pour out expands your capacity to receive more. So share what you've learned. Feel free to express yourself. Allow the good things that have come your way to be shared. That's a big part of the skill of building success, wealth, and value in the marketplace.
What Kind of Person Do You Want to Be?
As a result, work on developing skills that will make you marketable. Develop the temperament and attitude that will make you appealing to business partners, as well as the attitude and temperament that will make you a wonderful husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, friend, coworker, and business partner. Because here's the thing: it's not what you get that makes you valuable; it's what you become.
One final thought to ponder in your quest for personal growth: Promise is on the other side of cost. You must always pay the price for the promise. You must pay up front if you want the glory of success, the glory of a unique family, the glory and recognition of a unique enterprise, the glory of a job well done. And part of the pay is the discipline of developing marketable skills. You don't mind paying the discipline once you get a taste of value. I wish you all of the benefits that come with paying the price.
This is the end of this episode,
"Life only gets better if you get better," so keep that in mind.
The KEY to a Better Future is YOU!
