Five Men That Had a Profound Influence on my Thinking

A fan of my work asked me the other day who had a profound influence on my thinking, and I was quick to respond.

The first was Earl Nightingale. I was twenty-eight years old when someone gave me a set of six cassette tapes with two missing. One tape, Diamond’s Under Your Feet, was the one that connected with me. That was the day I turned off the radio and spent thousands of dollars on learning in my car. Earl was old school with a very deep voice, but his thoughts changed millions of lives.?

Earl Nightingale was known as the "Dean of Personal Development." He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he began a career in radio, where he gained fame for his early morning motivational messages. He later transitioned into personal development, becoming a best-selling author and speaker on the topic. He recorded many audio programs and wrote several books, including "The Strangest Secret," which won the first Gold Record for the spoken word.?

Earl Nightingale's key concepts include the power of positive thinking, the importance of setting and achieving goals, and the idea that we become what we think about most of the time. He also emphasized the importance of continuous self-improvement, the value of taking action, and the power of self-discipline and consistency in achieving success.

The second was Brian Tracy, the most intelligent man I have ever met.?His programs, especially the Universal Laws of Success and Achievement, were a cornerstone of my future success. Key to this was his advice to invest 3-5% of your income in yourself.?

Brian Tracy is a Canadian-American motivational speaker, author, and self-development expert. He is best known for his books, such as "Eat That Frog!" and "The Power of Self-Discipline." He has written over 70 books and produced over 500 audio and video learning programs.

Brian Tracy's key thoughts focus on personal and professional development, including goal setting, time management, self-discipline, and success. He emphasizes the importance of taking action, being accountable for one's own success, and continuously learning and growing. He also encourages people to set and achieve specific and measurable goals and to develop a positive attitude and mindset. Other critical thoughts from Tracy include the importance of planning and prioritizing tasks, the power of focus and concentration, and the value of building strong relationships and networking. He also stresses the importance of self-motivation, personal responsibility, and the need to be persistent and resilient in facing challenges and obstacles.

I ended up writing a book with Brian, The Traits of Champions.?

Third was Dan Kennedy, from?whom I learned the secrets of direct marketing. I bought him a few beers one night at the national speakers’ convention to thank him and pick his brain. Very interesting.?

Dan Kennedy began his career in the 1970s as a copywriter and later became a consultant to small businesses, helping them to improve their marketing efforts. He's also been a speaker and trainer in direct response marketing. In addition, he has written several books on the topic, including "The Ultimate Sales Letter," "No B.S. Marketing to the Affluent," and "The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost your Sales."?

Kennedy's marketing philosophy focuses on creating effective direct marketing campaigns, building strong customer relationships, and making a unique and compelling offer to stand out in a crowded market. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of testing, tracking, and measuring the results of marketing efforts and adjusting them accordingly.

Jay Abraham is a marketing genius who helped me make millions after a single meeting.?

Jay Abraham is an American entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and business coach known for his business growth and marketing expertise. He has been in business for more than 40 years and is considered one of the industry's most successful and influential marketing minds. He has written several books on marketing and business growth, including "Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got: 21 Ways You Can Out-Think, Out-Perform, and Out-Earn the Competition" and "The Sticking Point Solution: 9 Ways to Move Your Business from Stagnation to Stunning Growth In Tough Economic Times".?

Abraham's critical philosophy is that every business has untapped growth potential and that by uncovering that potential and implementing the right strategies, a company can achieve significant and sustainable growth. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer, identifying unique selling points, and creating a marketing and sales process tailored to the specific business.

Jay and I became friends and occasionally meet for dinner.?

I read Michael Gerber’s?book the E-Myth and thought yea, ok. Two years later, I read the same book and went, “Holly shit?” this is amazing. As they say, when the student is ready, the master will appear!

Michael Gerber is an American author, speaker, and entrepreneur known for his expertise in small business management and entrepreneurship. He is best known for his book "The E-Myth," considered a classic in small business management and entrepreneurship.

Gerber began his career as a small business owner and quickly realized that most small business owners needed help with the day-to-day operations of running a business. He developed the "E-Myth" concept, which stands for the "Entrepreneurial Myth," and refers to the common misconception that being an expert in a particular field is enough to succeed as a business owner. He argues that to be successful, a business owner must also be an expert in the other aspects of running a business, such as management, marketing, and systems. Gerber's fundamental philosophy is that small business owners must learn to work "on" their business, not just "in" it. He encourages them to develop a clear vision, create systems that can be replicated, and build a team to help them achieve their goals. He believes that by doing so, small business owners can create a business that works for them rather than the other way around.

I thank all of these men for their amazingly positive influence on my business and life. I hope I can do the same for some people who read my work.?