Jim Rohn…just the name inspires a smile and feelings of affection in me. Jim, mentor to thousands - more likely millions - left us this month, and the world is certainly poorer without him. He will be missed greatly, and he most certainly fulfilled his fondest wish, which was to touch many hearts and lives during his time here with us. Although Jim is gone physically, our planet and our collective psyche are vastly richer for his having been here and shared so generously with us.
Jim Rohn
September 17, 1930 – December 5, 2009
As is human nature, I did not realize quite how much Jim meant to me until I heard of his death and spent the day reflecting on it (I had no choice – I couldn’t get it out of my mind), and on how much his words and wisdom are a part of my psyche. I know I felt a deep sense of loss and cried my own private tears, and I can only imagine how his family and close friends must feel.
Jim’s passion for sharing his knowledge and helping others improve their lives inspired countless audience members to not only improve themselves but also to turn around and help others do the same. So many people have graduated from Jim’s seminars and subsequently passed along his wisdom in different ways, and hundreds of thousands more have absorbed Jim’s words while listening to his audio programs…in their cars, while they worked, while they exercised. An entire company – Herbalife – and its reps all over the globe have enjoyed Jim’s mentorship, and audiences all over the world have been fortunate to have spent time with him while he shared some of himself and his thoughts in seminars.
I have written of Jim often on this site and others, as readers will know, and I am one of many, many people in the personal and professional development fields who have incorporated Jim’s wisdom into their own words and thoughts…we can’t help it! Jim’s words and philosophy have affected so many people on so many levels it would be difficult to find someone in this genre who hasn’t benefited, whether they realize it or not. Jim spoke of business philosophy, but of course it was personal growth and development at its core. I felt Jim’s compassion in every word he said, and he was one of a very short list of people I’ve known of who truly walked his talk. By all accounts, he was humble, gracious, generous and kind, while also being wise, curious and full of zest for life.
I would like to thank Jim from the bottom of my heart for all he meant to me, and for being a shining example of mentorship. Sites of mine such as IncreasingVelocity.com and Live-With-Power.com are my attempts to share what has been of value to me, with the knowledge that improvement in one area of our lives affects everything else in a positive way. I now realize that it was Jim who first, and most deeply, instilled this philosophy in me and I am grateful.
The memorial wall which has been set up to honor Jim has received an outpouring of love, gratitude and grief from around the world. The thousands of messages are added to every day by people who loved Jim, from close and from afar, whose lives he touched. Jim’s spark for improvement and living with passion became our spark, and the flame burns brightly in us and will be passed on. Click here for the Jim Rohn memorial wall.
For more about Jim and the legacy he left via his products, see JimRohn.com. It’s never too late to begin on your own personal path of growth and development, and reap the immense rewards. Nothing would make Jim – and me – happier!
