The Power of Books to Transform Your Life

I was listening to "America's Success Coach", Jack Canfield, recently and he told a story that reminded me of Bob Proctor's "333 Story" from his international bestseller "You Were Born Rich". In summary, the "333 Story" is a great example of what you can achieve when you make a firm decision and remain open to possibilities rather than focus on obstacles.

Jack Canfield recounted that while he was in Atlanta promoting his book, "Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be", that he was interviewed by a woman who said his publisher had sent her two copies of his book. She read one and gave the second copy to her brother who had been unemployed for three years. He was depressed and refused to venture out.

Well three weeks later her brother had finished the book. He shaved, put on a suit and attended three job interviews. Just three days later he was offered a job. Just writing about this gives me goose bumps. Books indeed have the power to transform your life.

It was novelist, journalist and poet, Christopher Morley who said:

"When you give someone a book, you don't give him just paper, ink,
and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life."

This man had certainly been given a new lease on life when he was given the gift of "Success Principles".

It can be argued that one book has single-handedly transformed the world of personal development. Someone gave a little green book to Lloyd Conant who spent an entire weekend reading and rereading its contents. On Monday morning he decided that he would build a world-class corporation and that is exactly what he did. Nightingale-Conant is a giant in the field of personal development. The company is recognised around the world for the quality of its training programs and all the leaders in the field of personal and business development, marketing and sales training, spiritual growth and wealth building aspire to have their resources distributed by Nightingale-Conant.

One evening, Lloyd Conant told Bob Proctor and Harold Gash, two of his "top lieutenants", about the little green book. Proctor was just itching to discover the name of the book and more importantly what was written in the pages of this book that has had directed Lloyd Conant to his true purpose in life - to put the inspirational and educational recordings of Earl Nightingale in every home around the world. The book was "The Science of Getting Rich" and, though its text is outdated by our twenty-first century standards, it continues to fascinate and inspire a new army of transformational leaders.

Bob Proctor says of "The Science of Getting Rich" that:

"The contents of this book have served as the foundation for every personal development program I have written for the past quarter century."

In fact, Bob Proctor used this book as the basis of his "Science of Getting Rich" seminar - a powerful seminar that has helped thousands of people across the world better understand, and apply with outstanding results, the process of wealth creation.

The little green book inspired Rhonda Byrne to create and produce the movie "The Secret" - a movie which I recently heard described as a blockbuster. That made me smile for this movie does not feature the likes of Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, Samuel L Jackson, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon or George Clooney. There are no breath-taking action scenes, suspenseful car chases or even elaborate sets.

Instead, the movie features the likes of Bob Proctor, Loral Langemeier, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, Dr Joe Vitale and Bob Doyle among others. The film stars teachers, philosophers, finance experts, psychologists, physicists and authors. Bizarre, isn't it? But when you understand the spirit in which this film was made it really is no surprise that it has been as successful as it has been and, more importantly, the power of this movie to transform lives across the globe.

"As you learn The Secret you will come to know how you can have, be or do anything you want. You will come to know who you really are. You will come to know the true magnificence that awaits you in life."
Rhonda Byrne

I'm sure you can recall a book, perhaps even given to you by a friend or loved one, that made a significant impact on your life. I urge you therefore, to continuing reading inspirational books and to give someone you care about the gift of a great book.