Jack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages. According to USA Today, Canfield and his writing partner, Mark Victor Hansen, were the top-selling authors in the United States in 1997.
Canfield received a BA in Chinese History from Harvard University and a Masters from University of Massachusetts. He has worked as a teacher, a workshop facilitator, and a psychotherapist.
Canfield is the founder of "Self Esteem Seminars" in Santa Barbara, and "The Foundation for Self Esteem" in Culver City, California. The stated mission of Self Esteem Seminars is to train entrepreneurs, educators, corporate leaders and employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The focus of The Foundation for Self Esteem is to train social workers, welfare recipients and human resource professionals.
In 1990,he shared with author Mark Victor Hansen his idea for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. After three years, the two had compiled sixty-eight stories.
Canfield has appeared on numerous television shows, including Good Morning America, 20/20, Eye to Eye, CNN's Talk Back Live, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, Larry King Live and the BBC.
Canfield's most recent book, The Success Principles (2005), shares 64 principles that he claims can make people more successful. In 2006, he appeared in the DVD, "The Secret," and shared his insights on the Law of Attraction and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.
Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, TX. He is the son of Elmer and Ellen (a homemaker; maiden name, Taylor). He attended high school at Linsly Military Institute, Wheeling, WV, 1962. He went to college at Harvard University, B.A., 1966; University of Massachusetts at Amherst, M.Ed., 1973. Canfield married Judith Ohlbaum in 1971 (divorced, November 1976); he married Georgia Lee Noble on September 9, 1978 (divorced, December 1999); he married Inga Marie Mahoney on July 4, 2001; children: (first marriage) Oran, David, Kyle, Dania; (second marriage) Christopher Noble. He is a Democrat and a Christian, and his hobbies include tennis, travel, skiing, running, billiards, reading, and guitar.
This is a must read for productivity. Some take always -Life doesn't just happen to you. It's all about choices and how you respond to every situation. -The habits you develop from this day forward will ultimately determine how your future works out. Rich or poor. Healthy of unhealthy. Fulfilled or unfulfilled. Happy or u happy. It's your choice so choose wisely. -Make a list of all the habits that keep you unproductive. -Your habits and belief systems are a product of your environment. -Study successful people - read their autobiographies and biographies. - To avoid drifting away from your focus, ask yourself at regular intervals, "is what I'm doing right now helping me achieve my goals?"
Captain Obvious at his finest. E.g. get a whole chapter here about single truism 鈥淚t is important to be punctual鈥�. What else? Too American, too shallow, too primitive. And outdated too: goals are not a panacea, they can even be destructive for psychic. True happiness comes from enjoyment of every day, true efficiency is in establishing system, not setting one goal after another.
I have owned this book for years and years. When I picked it up to read it most recently it looks like I got about 100 pages in. I started fresh from the beginning and made the goal to start and finish this time. I am a different person today than I was back when I picked up this book. Jack, Mark and Les are a good team to write a book that provides a teaching and often a story to reinforce. I read about a third of the book out loud with my wife and she enjoyed it even. My work day starts in 20 minutes and i'm going to try and take on the most difficult task right out of the gates and then start working on my have-to and choose-to list. The finish to the book was very strong as well it really points out that your results are up to your and your willingness to make changes. I would recommend this book to anybody who would like to refocus their efforts especially someone who feels they are up against a glass ceiling or have hit a plateau for success.
I have read this book based on the recommendation of Ahmad Al Shugairi!
It is like a life strategy book, it's diverse, rich, and has good amount of planning exercises. It was a good read but I did like all parts!
Content is as follows: 1) Your habits will determine your future 2) It's not hocus-pocus, it's all about focus 3) Do you see the big picture? 4) Overcoming setbacks 5) Building excellent relationships 6) The confidence factor 7) Ask for what you want 8) Consistent persistence 9) Taking decisive action 10) Living and working on purpose
If you want to create life-changing habits this is your book. I have read so many inspirational books but somehow this supersedes them all. Why? Spurred into running and daily/weekly planning from day one. All three authors are gurus in self-improvement and have shared with us their struggles, failures, and triumphs in a concise, readable, and engaging format. Every chapter ends with Action Steps that should help you actualize the concept discussed. There are charts, graphs, forms and methods you can come back to, after you have finished your first read. At the very core, the authors emphasize that you are in charge of your own life. What you are today is the consequence of the choices you made in the past. There is no room for wishful thinking but action. By all means think it over, plan and consult but unless you step out and do the necessary, you will never see your plans to fruition. Understanding that creating new habits is difficult, the authors do not leave you alone. You are given strategies and encouragement to boot to take that first step. To trust yourself that you are capable of turning your life around. To begin. To persevere.
This book has won a permanent place in my library.
Chapter one: 1-read one book every month in your field 2-interview successful person every month 3-you must have mental pep talk 4-change your unproductive habit
chapter two: 1-ask yourself: what do you do effortlessly, what do you do that other people find difficult ? 2-create your income from answering the question above.
chapter three: 1-when you write your goals "be more specific " 2-develop mentors
chapter four: 1-overcoming setbacks by creating list of 10 things will improve your situation
It was fine. And, nicely written. A wonderful pep-talk. If you don't get it, yet, about visualization, goal-setting, and gratititude: HELLO! Read this book. If you already get it: re-play one of your self-improvement audio tapes, and devote the reading time to stepping forward.
Focus is something each of us struggles with. Yet if we can embrace and utilize more effectively focus has tremendous power for us to drive personal and professional results as well as those around us.