I’ve been listening to The Art of Exceptional Living
by Jim Rohn on CD during my commute. His message is very much like Covey’s – particularly in his emphasis on the seventh habit (self-improvement). The audio suggests it might have been recorded in a church, which is apropos because his speaking style has the staccato rhythm and emphatic re-enforcement of a Baptist preacher. He illustrates his philosophy of success with references to his own biography, which he breaks down into the first six years of his working life (“pennies in my pocket, no money in the bank, late on my bills, creditors are calling, behind on my promises to my family”) and the second, in which he became a millionaire, thanks to the instructive example of a successful boss. Takeaways:
- Reading is foundational. Get a library card and use it. Build a personal library. Spend time every day reading difficult material to expand your intellect. The best money you can spend is on your own self-education.
- Keeping a journal will help you capture what you’re learning. Use other forms of capture such as photography.
- Be prepared to work hard – not just at your job but on yourself. “If you work hard at your job, you can make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune.”
- You cannot change the world, the economy, the political situation, your negative relatives, etc. – you can only change yourself. This is the starting point. If you will change, your situation will change for you.
- Life is seasonal, so you must:
- Learn to deal with winter. Difficult times will come, and they won’t change, but you can: you can become stronger, wiser, better.
- Learn to take advantage of the spring. You must be prepared for opportunity, for it always follows adversity.
- Learn to care for the crop in the summer. Weeds and pests will always try to take it from you.
- Learn to reap in the fall without apology if you have succeeded or complaint if you have not.
- Personal development is critical to success. You must master five abilities:
- the ability to absorb
- the ability to respond
- the ability to reflect
- the ability to act
- the ability to share
- Do what you can, the best you can and rest very little.
