Jim Rohn (September 17, 1930 - December 5, 2009) was an American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. His rags to riches story played a large part in his work, which influenced others in the personal development industry. Early life Emanuel James "Jim" Rohn was born in Yakima, Washington to Emanuel and Clara Rohn. The Rohns owned and worked a farm in Idaho where Jim grew up, as an only child.

Career

Jim graduated high school 3rd out of a class of 140. He went to college for a year and a half before dropping out and joining the work force. At age 25, according to his accounts, he was working as a stock clerk for Sears collecting a weekly $57 paycheck. He wasn't broke but struggling financially, unable to see a way that would lead to his personal ambitions.Around this time, a friend invited him to a lecture given by John Earl Shoaff, an entrepreneur who impressed Rohn with his wealth, business accomplishments, charisma and life philosophy. In October, 1955, Rohn joined Shoaff's direct sales organization, and began a process of personal development that culminated in his becoming a millionaire by age 31. Shoaff, who had challenged Rohn at age 25 to reach for this goal, died one year before Rohn achieved it at age 31. Rohn was invited by a friend to come and tell his "rags-to-riches" story to his rotary club. He accepted and titled his talk "Farm Boy Makes It To Beverly Hills." The talk went so well that soon others began asking him to speak at various luncheons and other events. In 1963, at The Beverly Hills Hotel, he gave his first public seminar. He then began presenting seminars all over the country, telling his story and teaching the personal development philosophy he felt had led to his accomplishments. He presented seminars for more than 40 years. Tony Robbins worked for Rohn, who mentored Robbins during his early career. Others who credit Rohn for his influence on their careers include authors Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup book series), author/lecturer Brian Tracy, and author/lecturer T. Harv Eker. He was the recipient of the 1985 National Speakers Association CPAE Award for excellence in speaking. He is also the author of 17 different books, audio and video programs.

Death Jim Rohn died of pulmonary fibrosis after an 18-month battle on December 5, 2009 in West Hills, California.[1]

Five Major Pieces To the Life Puzzle Rohn's book Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle, published in 1991,[2] was built around what he considered the five components of success: Philosophy - how you think Attitude - how you feel Action - what you do Results - measure often to see if you are making progress Lifestyle - the kind of life you can make for yourself out of the first four pieces

John Earl Shoaff

John Earl Shoaff ( March 21, 1916 - September 6, 1965 ) was an American entrepreneur who was widely known as "The Millionaire Maker." At the height of his career Shoaff was President and Board Chairman of Nutri-Bio Corporation ( headquartered at 291-293 South La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California ), a direct sales organization which sold vitamin, mineral, and protein dietary food supplements.

John Earl Shoaff

Shoaff was deeply influential in the early life of Jim Rohn ( 1930–2009 ), an American motivational speaker and writer whose work helped launch or further the career of many others in the personal development industry, including Anthony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy, and Jack Canfield. Mr. Shoaff also had direct influence on the early lives of Zig Ziglar and Mary Kay Ash. At the age of 25, Shoaff hired and mentored Rohn. Today, we know much of the information about Earl Shoaff because of Jim Rohn's teachings.


Early Life

Born in Point Grove, Pennsylvania to a family of humble means, Shoaff left school after the ninth grade in order to help make ends meet during the Great Depression. During World War II he was rejected by the military because of a very serious heart condition he had been born with. In order to serve, Shoaff worked as a medical volunteer with the American Field Service overseas. After the war, he was told that this combat duty had caused further heart complications. Faced with a pessimistic prognosis of his mortality, Mr. Shoaff was determined to live life to its fullest, and proceeded to become a millionaire in only four years as the head of Nutri-Bio Corporation.

Very little is known about the life of Shoaff, but what we do know comes mostly secondhand. Of special note, Shoaff was the keynote speaker at a large gathering of success-minded people held in 1962 at the Essex House Hotel ( renamed the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in 2006 ) in Manhattan, New York City. His talk, titled "How To Become a Millionaire," originally made available to the public on a 33 RPM vinyl record, has since become legendary in the self-help, prosperity consciousness, MLM, and network marketing communities. As copies of this record are now very rare, Shoaff's talk has recently been re-released in ebook and CD formats under the title How To Become a Millionaire!

Shoaff centered a lot of his lessons around farm life. Stories including sowing, reaping, weeds, and tending gardens were cornerstones of his teachings.

Some of his quotes include: "Everything comes through us from us. Everything in this world that happens to us comes from here, not out here."

"If you plant a watermelon seed, you're not going to get grapefruit."

John earl shoaff 's famous quote:

success is something you attract by the person you become