What Constitutes A Good Life?
by Jim Rohn
The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living a good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.
1) Number one, productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it. To try your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.
2) Next are good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. I just lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, " Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.
3) Next on the list of a good life is your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.
4) Next is your religion, your spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature, it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.
5) Next - here's what my parents taught me. Don't miss anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possible can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possible can. That's what my parents taught me and it's served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.
Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.
6) Next are your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.
If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One person cares for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.
So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Monday, February 25, 2008
KEEPING A JOURNAL - ONE OF THE THREE TREASURES TO LEAVE BEHIND
(excerpted from the "How to Keep a Journal" audio
series by Jim Rohn)
If you're serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful,
sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique
individual - keep a journal. Don't trust your memory.
When you listen to something valuable, write it down.
When you come across something important, write it down.
I used to take notes on pieces of paper and torn-off
corners and backs of old envelopes. I wrote ideas on
restaurant placemats. On long sheets, narrow sheets and
little sheets and pieces of paper thrown in a drawer.
Then I found out that the best way to organize those ideas
is to keep a journal. I've been keeping a journal since
the age of twenty-five. The discipline makes up a valuable
part of my learning, and the journals are a valuable part
of my library.
I am a buyer of blank books. Kids find it interesting
that I would buy a blank book. They say, "Twenty-six
dollars for a blank book! Why would you pay that?" The
reason I pay twenty-six dollars is to challenge myself to
find something worth twenty-six dollars to put in there.
All my journals are private, but if you ever got a hold
of one of them, you wouldn't have to look very far to
discover it is worth more than twenty-six dollars.
I must admit, if you got a glimpse of my journals, you'd
have to say that I am a serious student. I'm not just
committed to my craft; I'm committed to life, committed
to learning new concepts and skills. I want to see what I
can do with seed, soil, sunshine and rain to turn them into
the building blocks of a productive life.
Keeping a journal is so important. I call it one of the
three treasures to leave behind for the next generation.
In fact, future generations will find these three treasures
far more valuable than your furniture.
The first treasure is your pictures. Take a lot of
pictures. Don't be lazy in capturing the event. How long
does it take to capture the event? A fraction of a second.
How long does it take to miss the event? A fraction of
a second. So don't miss the pictures. When you're gone,
they'll keep the memories alive.
The second treasure is your library. This is the library
that taught you, that instructed you, that helped you
defend your ideals. It helped you develop a philosophy.
It helped you become wealthy, powerful, healthy,
sophisticated, and unique. It may have helped you
conquer some disease. It may have helped you conquer
poverty. It may have caused you to walk away from the
ghetto. Your library, the books that instructed you, fed
your mind and fed your soul, is one of the greatest gifts
you can leave behind.
The third treasure is your journals: the ideas that you
picked up, the information that you meticulously gathered.
But of the three, journal writing is one of the greatest
indications that you're a serious student. Taking
pictures, that is pretty easy. Buying a book at a book-
store, that's pretty easy. It is a little more challenging
to be a student of your own life, your own future, your
own destiny. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a
journal. You'll be so glad you did. What a treasure to
leave behind when you go. What a treasure to enjoy today!
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
series by Jim Rohn)
If you're serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful,
sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique
individual - keep a journal. Don't trust your memory.
When you listen to something valuable, write it down.
When you come across something important, write it down.
I used to take notes on pieces of paper and torn-off
corners and backs of old envelopes. I wrote ideas on
restaurant placemats. On long sheets, narrow sheets and
little sheets and pieces of paper thrown in a drawer.
Then I found out that the best way to organize those ideas
is to keep a journal. I've been keeping a journal since
the age of twenty-five. The discipline makes up a valuable
part of my learning, and the journals are a valuable part
of my library.
I am a buyer of blank books. Kids find it interesting
that I would buy a blank book. They say, "Twenty-six
dollars for a blank book! Why would you pay that?" The
reason I pay twenty-six dollars is to challenge myself to
find something worth twenty-six dollars to put in there.
All my journals are private, but if you ever got a hold
of one of them, you wouldn't have to look very far to
discover it is worth more than twenty-six dollars.
I must admit, if you got a glimpse of my journals, you'd
have to say that I am a serious student. I'm not just
committed to my craft; I'm committed to life, committed
to learning new concepts and skills. I want to see what I
can do with seed, soil, sunshine and rain to turn them into
the building blocks of a productive life.
Keeping a journal is so important. I call it one of the
three treasures to leave behind for the next generation.
In fact, future generations will find these three treasures
far more valuable than your furniture.
The first treasure is your pictures. Take a lot of
pictures. Don't be lazy in capturing the event. How long
does it take to capture the event? A fraction of a second.
How long does it take to miss the event? A fraction of
a second. So don't miss the pictures. When you're gone,
they'll keep the memories alive.
The second treasure is your library. This is the library
that taught you, that instructed you, that helped you
defend your ideals. It helped you develop a philosophy.
It helped you become wealthy, powerful, healthy,
sophisticated, and unique. It may have helped you
conquer some disease. It may have helped you conquer
poverty. It may have caused you to walk away from the
ghetto. Your library, the books that instructed you, fed
your mind and fed your soul, is one of the greatest gifts
you can leave behind.
The third treasure is your journals: the ideas that you
picked up, the information that you meticulously gathered.
But of the three, journal writing is one of the greatest
indications that you're a serious student. Taking
pictures, that is pretty easy. Buying a book at a book-
store, that's pretty easy. It is a little more challenging
to be a student of your own life, your own future, your
own destiny. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a
journal. You'll be so glad you did. What a treasure to
leave behind when you go. What a treasure to enjoy today!
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Time to Act - Jim Rohn
A great article from the legend, Jim Rohn...
Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be hasty if it isn't required, but you don't want to lose much time either. Here's the time to act: when the idea is hot and the emotion is strong.
Let's say you would like to build your library. If that is a strong desire for you, what you've got to do is get the first book. Then get the second book. Take action as soon as possible, before the feeling passes and before the idea dims. If you don't, here's what happens -
- You Fall Prey To The Law Of Diminishing Intent -
We intend to take action when the idea strikes us. We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But if we don't translate that intention into action fairly soon, the urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold. A year from now it can't be found.
So take action. Set up a discipline when the emotions are high and the idea is strong, clear, and powerful. If somebody talks about good health and you're motivated by it, you need to get a book on nutrition. Get the book before the idea passes, before the emotion gets cold. Begin the process. Fall on the floor and do some push-ups. You've got to take action; otherwise the wisdom is wasted. The emotion soon passes unless you apply it to a disciplined activity. Discipline enables you to capture the emotion and the wisdom and translate them into action. The key is to increase your motivation by quickly setting up the disciplines. By doing so, you've started a whole new life process.
Here is the greatest value of discipline: self-worth, also known as self-esteem. Many people who are teaching self-esteem these days don't connect it to discipline. But once we sense the least lack of discipline within ourselves, it starts to erode our psyche. One of the greatest temptations is to just ease up a little bit. Instead of doing your best, you allow yourself to do just a little less than your best. Sure enough, you've started in the slightest way to decrease your sense of self-worth.
There is a problem with even a little bit of neglect. Neglect starts as an infection. If you don't take care of it, it becomes a disease. And one neglect leads to another. Worst of all, when neglect starts, it diminishes our self-worth.
Once this has happened, how can you regain your self-respect? All you have to do is act now! Start with the smallest discipline that corresponds to your own philosophy. Make the commitment: "I will discipline myself to achieve my goals so that in the years ahead I can celebrate my successes."
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to www.jimrohn.com or send a blank email to subscribe@jimrohn.com
Copyright © 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.
Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be hasty if it isn't required, but you don't want to lose much time either. Here's the time to act: when the idea is hot and the emotion is strong.
Let's say you would like to build your library. If that is a strong desire for you, what you've got to do is get the first book. Then get the second book. Take action as soon as possible, before the feeling passes and before the idea dims. If you don't, here's what happens -
- You Fall Prey To The Law Of Diminishing Intent -
We intend to take action when the idea strikes us. We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But if we don't translate that intention into action fairly soon, the urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold. A year from now it can't be found.
So take action. Set up a discipline when the emotions are high and the idea is strong, clear, and powerful. If somebody talks about good health and you're motivated by it, you need to get a book on nutrition. Get the book before the idea passes, before the emotion gets cold. Begin the process. Fall on the floor and do some push-ups. You've got to take action; otherwise the wisdom is wasted. The emotion soon passes unless you apply it to a disciplined activity. Discipline enables you to capture the emotion and the wisdom and translate them into action. The key is to increase your motivation by quickly setting up the disciplines. By doing so, you've started a whole new life process.
Here is the greatest value of discipline: self-worth, also known as self-esteem. Many people who are teaching self-esteem these days don't connect it to discipline. But once we sense the least lack of discipline within ourselves, it starts to erode our psyche. One of the greatest temptations is to just ease up a little bit. Instead of doing your best, you allow yourself to do just a little less than your best. Sure enough, you've started in the slightest way to decrease your sense of self-worth.
There is a problem with even a little bit of neglect. Neglect starts as an infection. If you don't take care of it, it becomes a disease. And one neglect leads to another. Worst of all, when neglect starts, it diminishes our self-worth.
Once this has happened, how can you regain your self-respect? All you have to do is act now! Start with the smallest discipline that corresponds to your own philosophy. Make the commitment: "I will discipline myself to achieve my goals so that in the years ahead I can celebrate my successes."
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to www.jimrohn.com or send a blank email to subscribe@jimrohn.com
Copyright © 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
People are changing their lives with this system
Not quite overnight, but within just a few months, people are changing their financial lives for the better with this revoltutionary new system of marketing on the internet.
They've taken the best of direct sales and network marketing and combined them into a perpetual leverage system that is unbeatable and more duplicatable than anything else out there by a long shot. t is called the Global Resorts Network and top notch internet marketers and newbies are plugging into it and making BIG money. Even those who had little to no success in other mlms, affiliate programs, and direct sales companies are finding success with this.
That said, this is certainly not for everyone. This is a real business that takes the right mindset to be successful. Tire kickers and dwaddlers and those who hesitate and drag their feet need not apply and waste everyone's time.
Motivated, ambitious entrepreneurs, what are you waiting for?
GLOBAL RESORTS NETWORK
They've taken the best of direct sales and network marketing and combined them into a perpetual leverage system that is unbeatable and more duplicatable than anything else out there by a long shot. t is called the Global Resorts Network and top notch internet marketers and newbies are plugging into it and making BIG money. Even those who had little to no success in other mlms, affiliate programs, and direct sales companies are finding success with this.
That said, this is certainly not for everyone. This is a real business that takes the right mindset to be successful. Tire kickers and dwaddlers and those who hesitate and drag their feet need not apply and waste everyone's time.
Motivated, ambitious entrepreneurs, what are you waiting for?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)