After a keynote training I did this past weekend, a lady came up to me to ask what I thought of Rolfing.

“I don’t enjoy ralphing at all” I quickly responded. Then she explained it was a way to “structurally integrate and manipulate the whole body into gravity.” “Okaaay,” I replied. “Why, do you ask?” She explained she wanted to rise to the top rank of her sales organization so she has been paying a “personal manifestation expert” to train her.

He has her Rolfing twice a week, psychically hugging her inner child three times a day (I kid you not), setting up her feng shui money corner and chanting affirmations out loud in front of the mirror for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night. “How many prospecting calls does he have you making each day?” I asked. “We haven’t talked about that” she replied.

Now the advice doesn’t need to be as off base or absurd as this to be wrong. In fact a lot of ‘expert’ advice is wrong.

Why?

• What works for one person doesn’t always work for another.
• The background or originating experience is different.
• People have different personalities and strengths.
• The timing and application is different.
• Most ‘experts’ contradict each other anyway.
• And frankly, there is just a lot of really bad, wrongheaded and bogus ‘expert’ advice out there. In some cases the advice is dangerous. In many cases it is simply distracting, thus productively damaging and time wasting.

As a 20-year consummate consumer of ‘expert’ personal-development material, I have heard, seen, tried and tested most all of it. As a 16-year business leader in the industry and publisher of SUCCESS, I am in the business of vetting so called ‘experts.’ (That is a big part of our job for you here at SUCCESS—to sort, filter and curate on your behalf, so you get the best and only the real-deal expert advice in SUCCESS magazine or on SUCCESS.com.)

Here is the No. 1 criterion I use to determine if someone is worthy of the ‘expert’ title: read more »

That is a quote from my mentor Jim Rohn. When I first heard Jim say this, I thought he meant giving created indebtedness on the part of the receiver—that you gave so you could get back. But I had it all wrong. Jim taught me that the real gift—the lasting benefit of giving—is what the act itself does for you. In essence, giving to others is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Giving feels good, but there’s more to it than that. Helping others incites physical and emotional responses within us. When we direct our energy and focus on meeting others’ needs, we push aside our brooding and negative emotions, especially those that contribute to stress-induced psychological and physical illnesses. Studies reveal that when we help others, we release extra amounts of endorphins into our system, and we get what researchers call a “helper’s high.”

Giving has a direct impact on the body’s neurological, hormonal and immune systems—it can even prolong your life. One study found that older individuals who are actively involved in helping others outlive those who aren’t. The physical benefits of helping others have been shown to have a greater impact on longevity than exercising four times a week, if you can believe that!

The benefits extend beyond the physical, also fostering traits that undergird a successful life. As a result, our careers and relationships often improve when we purposefully seek to make a difference in others’ lives. And studies show that people of all ages who actively help others, even in small ways, feel the happiest.

This September issue of SUCCESS featuring Michael Dell and his wife Susan explores read more »

My mentor Jim Rohn emphasized that one of the first things everyone should work on is their physical health. He said, “How terrible would it be if the mind said, ‘let’s go conquer the world’ and the body said, ‘I can’t even get out of bed’?” It takes your healthy body to carry around your head full of ideas and your heart’s desires.

There is nothing more pitiful than a ready and willing mind but an incapable body.

There is a well-known quote from the philosopher Virgil that says, “The greatest wealth is health.” I also believe that health is the beginning of wealth. In other words, your health will help you create wealth.

Times of great danger. The great efficiencies of technology have made us more inactive and sedentary than ever before. Food has become more abundant, more easily accessible, super-sized, bulk packaged and mass merchandised. Commercial marketing has proliferated into every space of attention with ingeniously creative and utterly tantalizing commercial marketing. It has never been more difficult to become and remain healthy.

If you are in the business of attracting, influencing, selling or leading others, how you show up, your physical appearance, speaks volumes about who you are, how you are and what you are or not capable of.

I know, people shouldn’t judge you, right? Well, here is a clue… they do!

Whether you like it or not, people make judgments and draw conclusions about you in the first 10-15 seconds they meet you, based solely on how you look. Like it or not, how you show up on the outside says a lot about you on the inside. Our body advertises our personal development. All the habits, behaviors, choices, disciplines (or lack there of) are made physical (literally) in your physique.

Here is a good question to consider: read more »

VIDEO: Darren Hardy’s Final Keynote at Jim Rohn Tribute Event

On Saturday, February 6th, 2010 1,300 people attended a special tribute to celebrate the life and legacy of the renown leader and business philosopher, Mr. Jim Rohn.

Shown in photo: Harvey Mackay, Brian Tracy, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, Darren Hardy, Denis Waitely and Chris Widener

The below is Darren Hardy’s final keynote to honor and wrap up the tribute to Jim Rohn:

This is what Brian Tracy sent me in an email the very next morning:
“Congratulations! It was incredible. Nothing like that has ever been done before in the personal success industry. The organization, timing, personalities, attention to detail throughout – all were extraordinary. Your role was priceless in tying the whole evening together. Thanks for inviting me.”

Get your copy of the special commemorative tribute to Jim Rohn in March issue of SUCCESS (on newsstands now).

More about Jim Rohn: www.JimRohn.com

My favorite Jim Rohn programs: The Mentor Pack

Jim Rohn - picture I took at a private lunch I had with him.

Today is a very sad day.

No amount of positive thinking will change this.

The most influential man in my life, second only to my biological father, died today.

This morning at 2:30AM Pacific time my mentor, my philosophical father, Mr. Jim Rohn passed away.

I owe much of my personality, grit and determination to my dad. But when my own parents hardly recognize me it is because Jim took over and carried me beyond where my parents could.

Jim cemented my philosophical foundation and nourished my mind with ideas and ambitions never before imagined. Jim chiseled my character seminar by seminar, tape by tape, book by book, then CD by CD, hour by hour.

Jim emboldened my belief, in me and in my most daring dreams. When I fell and was bloodied, Jim was there with encouraging words to help me get back up. When I didn’t think I could go on, Jim convinced me I was stronger than I imagined. When I wanted a short cut, Jim reminded me aren’t any. Even when I got too caught up in trying to achieve and succeed, Jim compelled me to leave room to live, to laugh and to love.

All that I am and all that I have become is due in large part to one man, the man I lost today. I have never lost anyone who has meant more to me than Jim Rohn has meant to my life. This is a new experience for me.

I know I am not the only one who lost a friend, teacher or mentor today. Jim Rohn positively influenced the lives of millions of people all over the world.

Many people try and take this occasion to celebrate the deceased life. That is fine and I will, maybe tomorrow, but today my heart hurts.

I am trying to make my life count and when I am gone I want to be missed. Jim Rohn’s life counted, immensely. Now that he is no longer walking amongst us, he is missed, deeply… very deeply.

There is some good news to this, for you. read more »