It is rare to find a man with incredible writing ability and speaking skills. But, Jim Rohn was blessed with both of these. His incredible story of starting from humble beginnings and climbing to the top has inspired several well-known entrepreneurs today.
You may wonder who Jim Rohn is if you have never encountered any of his works in the past. But do not worry, as this is precisely what we will discuss in this article.
In this article, we will cover the following topics;
Who is Jim Rohn? |
What was Jim Rohn Best Known For? |
Best Books by Jim Rohn: The List |
Top Books Recommended by Jim Rohn |
Final Thoughts |
Who is Jim Rohn?
On September 17, 1930, Emanuel and Clara Rohn gave birth to a son named Emanuel James Rohn in Yakima, Washington. The world will later know this child as Jim Rohn.
Jim Rohn grew up as an only child in Caldwell, Idaho. He lived an ordinary and simple life on a farm with his parents.
Upon entering college, he immediately dropped out after a year. He then worked at the department store Sears as a human resource manager.
He struggled financially, but that did not stop him from relentlessly pursuing success. During his time as an HR manager, a friend invited him to a seminar by the famous John Earl Shoaff, which paved the way for his distributorship of AbundaVita.
After a few years, he eventually left his distributorship and joined Nutri-Bio. Rohn’s life finally gained traction as the company’s founder and Shoaff mentored him.
Later, he was offered a speaking engagement by his rotary club, which he accepted, winning friends. As a result, many more speaking opportunities came knocking on his door. He began speaking at seminars, teaching development philosophy, and sharing his experience throughout the country.
In 1963, he fully entered the personal-development business. He started writing self-help and personal development books and attending more speaking engagements.
He did this for over 40 years. During those years, he has positively influenced individuals such as Tony Robbins, a famous life strategist, and the founder of Herbalife International, Mark R. Hughes. He has also inspired notable individuals are Jack Canfield, T. Harv Eker, Brian Tracy, Chris Widener, and Todd Smith.
In the early 2000s, Rohn dived into audio programs and used his persuasive voice to reach thousands of audiences with motivational messages.
On December 5, 2009, at 97, Jim Rohn took internal rest due to pulmonary fibrosis. However, his legacy continues with the work and influence he has left on the earthly plains.
What was Jim Rohn Best Known For?
Mark Cuban is best known as the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks team. Basketball fans worldwide love him as a highly successful basketball team owner. Apart from that, he also appears regularly as a main “shark” investor in the popular ABC reality TV series Shark Tank.
Best Books by Jim Rohn: The List
1 – 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness
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If you happen to be looking for both wealth and happiness, then this is the book that you should read. This is one of the earlier publications authored by Jim Rohn. It is also one of his most well-known works.
7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness is a 176-page guidebook on the list of things you can do to become a better person.
You wouldn’t question the integrity of each word in the book because you know that this is from people who struggled and succeeded in the end. The inspirational message and lesson you will take from this book are priceless.
Quotes from the book;
“Reasons come first, answers second. It seems that life has a mysterious quirk of camouflaging the answers in such a way that they become apparent only to those who are inspired enough to look for them — who have reasons to look for them.”
“TO HAVE MORE THAN YOU’VE GOT, BECOME MORE THAN YOU ARE.”
“Before I met Mr. Shoaff, I used to ask, “How much does it cost?” But he taught me to ask, “What is it worth?” When I started to base my life on value instead of price, all kinds of things began to happen.”
“When you know what you want and you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way to get it. The answers, methods, and solutions you need to solve the problems along the way will be revealed to you.”
“A parent spends three hours watching TV and only ten minutes playing with the children.”
“Once you set goals that really matter to you, you are no longer the same person. Real goals will affect almost everything you do all day long. And they will be with you wherever you go. Your handshake, your manner of dressing, the tone of your voice, the way you feel — all will change once you have goals. That’s because when your goals matter, everything you do becomes related to their accomplishment.”
2 – Twelve Pillars
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Jim Rohn has a trend of encouraging readers to become the best version of themselves despite the adversities that they might face. He wrote this book for everyone who needs a little push to the right path.
Twelve Pillars is a story about a man named Micheal and his encounters in the “Twelve Pillars” estate. There, he met a man named Charlie, who helped him get back on the right track in life by sharing the secret to success.
Discover what these secret twelve pillars of success are by finishing this book. You could pick up one or two of these pillars and apply your own life.
Quotes from the Books;
“The best motivation is self-motivation. the guy says, “I wish someone would come by and turn me on.” What if they don’t show up? You’ve got to have a better plan for your life.”
“No, working hard isn’t a problem in and of itself, but Mr. Davis always says that the first Pillar of Success is to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”
“Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden.”
“Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.”
“the major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than the goal you achieve.”
3 – The Seasons of Life
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The Seasons of Life is eloquent parallelism of Jim Rohn to the changing seasons and life’s experiences. He has cleverly related different life events to seasons and turned them into lessons. He then provides actionable alternatives that you could to make the best out of these changes.
The idea of this book is derived from the sower and reaper parable. It tells readers what you can do to ensure that you get positive results in the feature.
It is indeed true that we do not know what the future holds, but what we can do is prepare for what will come.
Quotes from the book;
“The greatest value of the past is how wisely we invest it in the future.”
“Eating alone is better than mingling with those whose conversation is negative.”
“Our life as we now live it, is the result of seeds planted at an earlier time.”
“There is little difference between those cannot read and those who will not read.”
“An empty bank account is a sign of an ineffective past effort. It is a sign of a missed opportunity. It is a sign of too much procrastination, or laziness.”
“Do not blame the problems and challenges of life for your humbling circumstances. Does the seed complain because of the rocks it must grow over, under, around, or through?”
4 – Five Major Pieces of the Life Puzzle
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Many people spend their entire existence figuring out the perfect recipe for life, but Rohn has long figured it out.
The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle covers the reasons behind the success of other people. It also talks about the key takeaways you can get from their experience.
Rohn also shares the philosophy, attitude, and lifestyle that can lead to success. His insights regarding this topic in the book are from his own life.
You will truly see how rich he is not only in terms of financial capabilities but also with life experiences and lessons.
Quotes from the book;
“There is very little difference between someone who cannot read and someone who will not read. The result of either is ignorance. Those who are serious seekers of personal development must remove the self-imposed limitations they have placed on their reading skills and their reading habits.”
“Those whose efforts have produced a poor result often have a lengthy list of reasons to justify their poor progress. To them the items on the list are not excuses, they are reasons. They blame the company or they blame the boss. They blame taxes. They blame their parents or the teachers or the system. Sometimes they even blame the country.”
“It is better to aim the spear at the moon and strike the eagle, than to aim at the eagle and strike only a rock.”
“Today brings to each of us 1,440 minutes; 86,400 ticks of the clock. Both the poor and the wealthy have the same 24 hours of opportunity. Time favors no one.”
5 – The Art of Exceptional Living
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Jim Rohn says the secret to exceptional living is doing simple things exceptionally.
The Art of Exceptional Living gives readers an idea that despite how ordinary they think they are, the little things that they do matter. He also shares a mindset that you do not have to take an enormous leap of faith to be successful.
Jim Rohn also imparts four strategies one must master to live exceptionally. Some of these strategies involve overcoming self-imposed limitations and how to ignite your miracle in life.
Instead, he encourages readers to do little steps well daily as it will eventually sum up into something great.
Quotes from the book;
“For things to change, you have to change.”
“There are some things you don’t have to know how it works – only that it works. While some people are studying the roots, others are picking the fruit. It just depends on which end of this you want to get in on.” — Jim Rohn”
6 – Leading an Inspired Life
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Leading An Inspired Life is a compilation of the foundation principles of the philosophies of Jim Rohn. Basically, with simple words, Rohn encourages readers to make the best out of their lives. Also, it teaches how to experience greater joy, wealth, and satisfaction in life.
Anybody interested in achieving success should read this. The thought-provoking delivery of Rohn in this book has inspired many people to rise above adversities and continue a relentless path to being extraordinary.
The entire life’s work of Jim Rohn is indeed something we can all consider as leading an inspired life.
Quotes from the book;
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”
“The world doesn’t care whether you choose to stop here or to go on. So you have to care.”
“And I learned a valuable lesson: success is not something you pursue. Success is something you attract because of the person you become. What you pursue usually eludes you like the butterfly you can’t quite catch. But if you want to be successful, you must attract success by developing the skills and the appropriate mind-set. What you learn about the marketplace and its goods and services… that’s what’s valuable. The key to getting paid very well in the marketplace is to develop very valuable skills.”
“The difference between a goal-directed individual and someone without goals is like the difference between a Wimbledon champion and a kid batting a tennis ball around on a court with no net, no opponent to bring out the best in him, and no way of keeping score.”
“The third major lesson in life is this: learn how to nourish and protect your crops all summer. Sure enough, as soon as you’ve planted, the busy bugs and noxious weeds are out to take things over. And here is the next bit of truth: they will take it, unless you prevent it. There”
“The most valuable form of discipline is the one that you impose upon yourself. Don’t wait for things to deteriorate so drastically that someone else must impose discipline into your life.”
7 – The Treasury of Quotes
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The Treasury of Quotes is an excellent daily source of wisdom. It can also provide a significant boost in motivation for those who need it. It contains over 365 quotes gathered from the personal journal of Jim Rohn that encompasses 60 diverse topics.
These topics include communication, time management, personal development, leadership, wealth, business, relationship, leadership, goals, success, and many more. Each quote is thought-provoking and inspiring at the same time.
The quotes collection shows Jim Rohn’s insights into his over 40 years in the industry. It shows his understanding of people and different situations. Most of all, it embodies his teaching, practices, and entire life’s work.
Top Books Recommended by Jim Rohn
Aside from being an author, Jim Rohn was also an avid reader. Here are some of Jim Rohn’s book recommendations that he suggests everyone should read.
1. | The Bible |
2. | Think and Grow Rich |
3. | How to Read a Book |
4. | As a Man Thinketh |
5. | The Richest Man in Babylon |
6. | The Magic of Thinking Big |
1 – The Bible
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The Bible is the oldest scripture known to man. It is a compilation of sixty-six books, written by over forty authors over 1,600 years, speaking of stories about humanity, history, redemption, despair, and hope, all embraced into one theme, in how God saved a people for through Himself and from Himself. Also, it provides spiritual guidance, which is essential in holistic personal development and the eternal destiny of everyone, whether that be in God’s glory in Heaven or Hell in God’s wrath.
This book also influences many minds in history, cultures, societies, and people. One of these minds is Jim Rohn’s. The influence is evident in his writings. An excellent example is The Season of Life, where he used a parable as a basis.
There are so many lessons that one can take from reading The Bible. Aside from searching for strategies to achieve success, the Bible teaches readers how to be saved through Christ’s redemptive work to escape the wrath.
Quotes from the book;
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
2 – Think and Grow Rich | By Napoleon Hill
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Jim Rohn believed that a man’s mindset is an essential key to success, which is what this book will tell you.
Think and Grow Rich is dubbed by many as the “Granddaddy of All Motivational Literature.”
If you happen to be someone who is seeking motivation in life, read this book. Take notes of the ideas and philosophies it shares. Make it your daily dose of affirmation and abide by the teachings that Napoleon Hill imparts in this book.
Quotes from the book;
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
“You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.”
“Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.”
“Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do. More than five hundred of the most successful men this country has ever known told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.”
“Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds”
“If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way.”
“Do not wait: the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.”
3 – How to Read a Book | By Mortimer Adler
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Reading is not merely speaking the written words out loud. Reading requires understanding and comprehension. Reading is seeing beyond the letters and acquiring the idea intended by the author or forming your own. These thoughts are exact ideas that Mortimer Adler promulgates in his book: How to Read a Book.
Adler provides a guide on how a person can improve their reading comprehension in this book. He also suggests how to efficiently understand books using several reading techniques.
It has been almost 50 years since this book was published, but until this day, every word of its content is still relevant and useful.
Quote from the book;
“….a good book can teach you about the world and about yourself. You learn more than how to read better; you also learn more about life. You become wiser. Not just more knowledgeable – books that provide nothing but information can produce that result. But wiser, in the sense that you are more deeply aware of the great and enduring truths of human life.”
“The great authors were great readers, and one way to understand them is to read the books they read.”
“To agree without understanding is inane. To disagree without understanding is impudent.”
“The ability to retain a child’s view of the world with at the same time a mature understanding of what it means to retain it, is extremely rare – and a person who has these qualities is likely to be able to contribute something really important to our thinking.”
“There are genuine mysteries in the world that mark the limits of human knowing and thinking. Wisdom is fortified, not destroyed, by understanding its limitations. Ignorance does not make a fool as surely as self-deception.”
“Is it too much to expect from the schools that they train their students not only to interpret but to criticize; that is, to discriminate what is sound from error and falsehood, to suspend judgement if they are not convinced, or to judge with reason if they agree or disagree?”
4 – As a Man Thinketh | By James Allen
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The title comes from Proverbs 23:7, which states, “As a Man Thinketh in his heart, so is he.” James Allen seeds the ideas and concepts of how a man thinks.
This book talks about how thoughts dictate a man’s character. The premise is that if you think and go, you also get good results. Furthermore, this book also provides real-life examples that support its claim.
One of these notable examples it shares is how a criminal with a renewed positive mindset is still capable of having a good life. It also explains that sometimes, not all rich people have happy lives, and not all poor are miserable.
This book is full of inspirational stories anybody can relate to. After reading this, you will surely have a rejuvenated sense of positivity about life.
Quotes from the book;
“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be”
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.”
“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. ”
“He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much. He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.”
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.”
“A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses.”
“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state…Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
5 – The Richest Man in Babylon | By George S. Clason
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This book is one of the highest suggested books by Jim Rohn. It shares the ways of ancient Babylonians to amass wealth as they were the first people to unravel the laws of prosperity.
George Clason successfully delivered his message by compiling tales about the ancient Babylonian tradesmen, merchants, and herdsmen. In these tales, he imparts inspirational lessons relating to personal wealth, financial planning, and thrift in a thought-provoking manner.
He then proceeded to provide concrete advice for starting, nourishing, and preserving personal wealth. Overall, this book answers how you should manage your money.
Quotes from the book;
“Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you only take what is worth having.”
“Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts.”
“Proper preparation is the key to our success. Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts. Our thinking can be no wiser than our understanding.”
“In those things toward which we exerted our best endeavors we succeeded.”
“As for time, all men have it in abundance.”
“The sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, and
will still be shining when thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness.”“The hungrier one becomes, the clearer one’s mind works— also the more sensitive one becomes to the odors of food.”
“Learning was of two kinds: the one being the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught us how to find out what we did not know?”
“If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend’s burdens upon thyself.”
6 – The Magic of Thinking Big | By David Schwartz
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In this book, David Schwarts has provided specific ways to make the best out of your community, family, relationships, and jobs to surpass your goal.
Aside from that, he also gives away the secrets to achieving great success. According to him, being successful does not require an individual to be intellectual; rather, he/she should have the right attitude and work ethic.
If you happen to be interested in what these proven and tested secrets are, do yourself a favor and grab a copy now.
Quotes from the book;
“Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution.”
“WHEN YOU BELIEVE, YOUR MIND WILL FIND WAY TO DO”
“Look at things not as they are, but as they can be. Visualization adds value to everything. A big thinker always visualizes what can be done in the future. He isn’t stuck with the present”
“the thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you have”
“whether the psychological problem is big or little, the cure comes when one learns to quit drawing negative form one’s memory bank and withdraws positive instead”
“Think you are weak, think you lack what it takes, think you will lose, think you are second class – think this way and you are doomed to mediocrity.”
“Build castles, don’t dig graves.”
“Most of us make two basic errors with respect to intelligence: 1. We underestimate our own brainpower. 2. We overestimate the other fellow’s brainpower.”
Final Thoughts on the Best Books by Jim Rohn
The search for success, money, and happiness seems to be a common trend in the works of Jim Rohn. He captured humanity’s need to evolve and find fulfillment perfectly. Upon doing so, he was also able to provide wise advice and strategies that can be applied in the lives of individuals searching for success and happiness.
Even till his death, the words of Jim Rohn continue to inspire hundreds of people worldwide. The life he lived and the work he left will forever be remembered and viewed as an inspiration.

Meet Maurice, a staff editor at Bigger Investing. He’s an accomplished entrepreneur who owns multiple successful websites and a thriving merch shop. When he’s not busy with work, Maurice indulges in his passion for kayaking, climbing, and his family. As a savvy investor, Maurice loves putting his money to work and seeking out new opportunities. With his expertise and passion for finance, he’s dedicated to helping readers achieve their financial goals through Bigger Investing.