James Allen 19th Century Self Help Guru

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers James Allen: 19th Century Self Help Guru As you know, I find inspiration from quotes. I doubt many of you have ever heard of James Allen. He was an English author in the late 1800s. His quotes have inspired many, but few have ever heard of him. He was a self-help guru when self-help gurus were not cool. Here are just a few of his quotes that I hope will inspire you. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration. To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve. For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now? All that you accomplish or fail to accomplish with your life is the direct result of your thoughts.” If you want to learn more about James Allen and download his most famous book As a Man Thinketh, check out  James Allen (1864-1912)An unrewarded genius,  a website devoted to his writing and teaching.   Chapter Four of the book focuses on having a purpose, something I believe we all need. I particularly like this paragraph from that chapter: A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being. But whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which he has set before him… Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.” What Allen described is still valid today. Take a look at this Atlantic Monthly article:  There’s More to Life Than Being Happy. I like this quote: In the words of Martin E. P. Seligman, one of the leading psychological scientists alive today, in the meaningful life “you use your highest strengths and talents to belong to and serve something you believe is larger than the self.” So, have you decided what your major definite purpose is for  being a lawyer? Have you focused your thoughts on achieving it?     I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.