As you know, our mentor and friend Jim Rohn passed away December 5, 2009. I couldn't help to get a little choked up about the idea that my mentor had passed away after helping me to not only look at ways to improve my business rather how he helped me look at who I am and how I want to be remembered when the good Lord decides that it is my time to do his work.
I remember being at a crossroad financially and spiritually. I was handed a CD by a friend. I popped it into my car CD player. This was the beginning of a new me. I listened and at every word, this old wise and gentle man was speaking the very experience I was going through. I listened to Jim Rohn CD 100's of times. At every day I was feeling a bit de-moralized, unmotivated, or was in need of a kick in the pants, Jim would tell me like it is. He told me that "To be successful you don't need to do extraordinary things, you just need to do ordinary things extraordinarily well."
This may not be the best place to tell you (a stranger) this but to understand how Mr. Rohn affected me and thousands of others is to not leave any empty spaces in the story. I was on the verge of divorce (for all the wrong reasons, financially in the dumps, spiritually.. well let's just say I had a long hard talk with the Lord and he came up winning. Before that that day, I had no direction and personally I didn't care for any. Then I heard Jim tell me "You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight" He went on to tell me "It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go."
From that day forward, I worked on my marriage, my financial well-being, my relationship with the Creator and I found an immense reward awaiting on the othe side of the road. Jim's words helped me improve the person I was and he is directly a part of who I am today. I realized many things by his help but importantly, that the world was in no need of someone who did not need the world. For what do you have to offer if you want to live your life with no direction, no value to mankind or more importantly to your family and peers? This ladies and gentlemen is the secret to a rich life.
Funny! My 40 year mile marker of my journey was changed by a man who I never met.
God Bless you Jim and may you continue changing lives, one soul at a time!
Ted Canto
AZ Residential Lender
www.academymortgage.com/tedcanto
Great job, Ted. I couldn't have said it any better. I'm happy you were able to turn around your life and your career. In that order.
Cheers!
Tap
Ted ~ I didn't know he passed. I used to get a daily email inspiration from one of his sites on the Internet then I changed emails recently. I really liked how his words put feelings into my mind and yes it changes you. Thanks for blogging this.
I didn't know he passed... yes.. a tear just swelled up. Love that man, and what he did for me and my life.
I, too, was totally unaware of Jim's passing. I have listened to many of his teachings. I doubt if there are too many who haven't heard him and he will be missed.
Ted - What a beautiful tribute to a man who obviously made a hug impression on you.
Ted, I know all those Jim Rohn quotes as well and his mentor was that elder Mr. Schauf. We all help each other and good thing a lot of his material was recorded.
Amen, with in six months of discovering Jim Rohn. My life turned around. The greatest quote of all time "If you will change.... Everything will change for you". The only thing Jim never could convert me on is "becoming a happy tax payer". He will live in heart forever.
Very well written - glad you were able to find someone who changed your life for the better!
Keep up the great work, have a great year!
Ted: I didn't know that Jim had passed away. Sorry to hear it. He was an awesome indivual. I from experience that when the student is ready the teacher appears. There are no coincidences. I'm glad he touched your life.
God Bless and keep up the good work!
It is a touching story. I am glad that you posted it.
I just subscrib his quotes. May be I will learn something new also.
Thanks.
Grace Keng
www.gracekeng.com
Well said Ted!
Well said!
What a great tribute to obviously someone very special in your life. Hold onto the memories.
Hi Ted
I've been wanting to write a tribute to him and thank you for doing it. Glad to hear how he impacted your life. My favorite quote of him is: "Be so busy giving recognition that you don't need it" Now all I gotta do is put it in practice daily.
Ted, what a great Tribute to Jim Rohn, he has changed many lives for the better.
Thank you for sharing, life is not what happens but how you react.
Good luck on your journey.
I have never read or listened to a direct cd or book from Jim Rohn but from what you have said I will definitely look into his teachings.
What a lovely tribute and a wonderful inspiring journey for you. I'm sure those who read you story will appreciate it as well. Happy New Year You.
Thanks for sharing your story Ted. You never know how many lives you may have touched just by sharing your experience and Jim Rohn's wise words. All the best to you.
Bernice Dubon
Ted,
What a great tribute to Jim Rohn, who continues to speak to me via CD as I drive to and from work. Thanks for the post.
Mike in Tucson
Hi Ted,
How nice, and I somehow missed the fact myself that Jim Rohn had passed. I've loved listening to him over the years and loved to read how you've been blessed!
It sounds like you are very fortunate to have found Jim Rohn and that he truly did change your life.
Hi Ted~ It's funny how some people touch our lives and yet they may have no idea that they have inspired us!
Well stated... I never met him either... but a great man !
" Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money but you cant get more time." -Jim Rohn
We can all learn a lesson or two, to help us in life from the words and thoughts of Jim Rohn
Ted, thank you for your insight and openess about the changes you lilved through. It has been awhile since I heard any of Jim's information, but think it would be good to return to his ideaologies. I ap[preciate your bringing him back to mind.
Ted,
What a great personal testimony. Jim Rohn is truly inspiring for me and your tribute is moving. Thanks for posting! Keep up the good fight!
Jim Rohn's passing was a sad day! It was amazing that he wasn't acknowledged on any newscasts that day, but then again I'm not surprised.
Jim was and still is a mentor to millions of people. He will live on in our hearts and DVDs, CD players and iPods.
The first philosophy I ever heard from Jim was "Profits are better than wages." So true!
RIP
Pivotal moments in life that cause change, how nice of you to reflect and share a bit of your journey. GOOD for you, the right road isn't always the easist until we make the decision to commit. You did, best to you.
Thanks for sharing. Looks like you will have a great 2010. Good luck
Tony
I was grateful to read your wonderful tribute to the wisdom of Jim Rohn, and your touching testimony of how the eternal truths that he conveyed, personnally motivated and inspired your own re-direction. For all the undertows that tug at the human heart, there are so many more waves of inspiration to reach for and ride that do carry us through our lives. Jim Rohn was one of those really good waves...and you caught it. I rejoice for you (and your family)...may each and every day of this new year be one of your best.
Ted, Thank you for sharing from your heart. I, too, have Jim speak to me via a CD when I am driving.
Oh, I had no idea. Shows how out-of-touch I am with the seminar crowd these days, but I am very sorry to hear this. I met Jim Rohn in the late 1970s. In fact, he worked for my ex-husband in the seminar business. Jim gave me one of his very first books. Can't recall the title, and it might not even be in print anymore, but it's in my bookcase. I believe it was The Magic of Goals, or something very similar to that. All my books are packed because we're refinishing the floors, or I'd look it up for you.
I recall the book, though, which is weird after all these years, because it was inspirational. I read it over and over.
I remember Jim as an exceptional speaker who delivered from the heart with great passion. He was one of the few speakers / authors in the real estate business who was truly a very nice person down to the core. I am saddened that he is gone.
I am really glad that everyone liked the post. Jim Rohn was truly one of the great philosophers of our time. What is interesting to know is that he was actually one of Tony Robbins' teachers. If any of you never had the chance to read and/or listen to him.. My personal opinion that it is a must. He simplified the hard things in life, painted them in a way that made it hard "NOT"to take notice and make the necessary changes in life. TRULY INSPIRATIONAL! Whether you know it or not, we lost a truly great man.
Stephen, it is worth the investment to buy at least one of his CD's. I guarantee you it will not get old. I've listened to his CD so much that I had to burn an extra copy as it was getting worn out and scuffed up. It is timeless.
Someone mentioned in here that there wasn't any news coverage. That is true and how sad as the news always reports sad events but doesn't cover sad events such as this about people who shine and who touches people's lives. They missed a great story and opportunity.
Elizabeth #35, he was definitely a truly genuine person. I got to see him (never met him personally) and you're right it was easy to see his sincerity to his core.
I would appreciate you sharing any of your personal favorite quotes. Here is a good one: "If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around."
He had a positive impact on me too. I was disappointed to know he was involved in MLM, which I object to as a form of business.
I was going to inform those of you who live in California about this but I guess his memorial event is sold out. Check it out. The good news is that they are going to film it and put it on his website for people to see.
http://tribute.jimrohn.com/
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Jim Rohn
Thank you for your interest. We've had an amazing, overwhelming response and all seats are filled.
The event will feature family, long-time friends and many special guest speakers, including Anthony Robbins, Les Brown, Brian Tracy, Chris Widener, Denis Waitley and Darren Hardy, in a celebration of Jim Rohn's remarkable life. They will pay tribute to Jim by sharing their thoughts and insights on some of his most powerful success principles. The event will be held on Saturday, February 6, at the Hilton Anaheim (California).
The program will be from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A pre-program reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. to allow attendees to connect with others whose lives have been impacted by the wisdom of Jim Rohn.
The event will be filmed and posted here at a later date
You have written a wonderful tribute to Jim Rohn, and I am glad that he had such a positive influence on your life.
While I have never listened to Jim Rohn he has mentored and inspired many people who's guidance I follow to this day, so for that alone I owe him a debt of gratitude. I will get out and get some of those cd's! Thank you Ted!
I didn't know he passed away. I used to find him wonderfully wise and he sent daily emails to me when I was coached and then they just stopped. Thanks for the post and the tribute to your mentor.
Ted
I have had the pleasure of attending 6 of Jim's seminars or guest lectures and I cannot express how eloquent and down to earth he was.
As you can tell by the upcoming memorial attendance of some of the heavy hitters in the motivation business, he touched a tremendous amount of people.
Ty
Ted...What a heartfelt tribute to a very important person in your life.
I didn't know about him, but I'm going to look him up now. Great quotes and a nice memorial. Remember, we will never know the complete extent of our impact on earth, but make it good!
I didn't know him but mentors are so important. I would rather have a mentor that a guru. A guru tells you how to live, a mentor show you how to live by their example.
Amazing story....my 40th year brought about alot of revelations for myself. You hit it on the head when you talked about seeking the relationship with God-all your problems seem to be much smaller.
God Bless You and Your Business!
Was this the same person who inspired Anthony Robbins early in his career?
Hey Philip
Yup indeed he was. In an essense he was the creator of the Robbins that we know today.
Warm wishes
I just loved that guy. He will be missed by millions. Thank you for the post. Blessings to you this new year.
Ted,
I know you will miss him but what a fantastic and significant impact he had on your life! It is wonderful that you were able to get to know him. May he rest in peace. :-)
Wendy
Wow Ted: I did not know he had passed on. I got to hear him speak several years ago and have several of his CD's. I agree - what an inspiration - he will be missed.