Costco Connection - June 2006

Success made simple

Chicken Soup chef Jack Canfield

cooks up a self-help guide for success

“I was a perfectionist and did well, but

^By ^Shana ^McNallyI never felt safe. I was afraid to ask a girl After writing more than 60 books from American author Henry James), exer- for a date or try out for the school play,” that have sold more than 80 mil- cises and personal stories gleaned from inter- Canfield says. lion copies, Jack Canfield knows a views with 70 successful individuals. Despite his misgivings he earned a schol-thing or two about success, and He divides success into seven areas, arship to Harvard and a master’s degree from he’s willing to share. including finances, career and personal goals, the University of Massachusetts before accept-

Canfield is the co-author with Mark all with a common theme of personal respon- ing a job teaching history at an all-black high Victor Hansen of The Chicken Soup for the sibility. “A successful person is one who school on the south side of Chicago.

Soul series, which has been translated into achieves what is important to them in each of There, Canfield met W. Clement Stone, a more than 35 languages and includes 11 these areas,” he tells The Connection in a self-made millionaire who became his mentor New York Times bestsellers. Now, along with recent telephone interview from his home and taught him some of the principles he Janet Switzer, he has written The Success in Santa Barbara, California. “It’s being describes in hisbook. His connection to Stone Principles: How to Get from Where You able to do what you say you’re going to do led to work as a corporate trainer and consul- Are to Where You Want to Be (Collins, 2004). and actually getting the result.” tant to such Fortune 500 companies as General In this latest self-help guide, he shares 64 The problem most people encounter, Electric, Campbell’s and Johnson & Johnson. universal and powerful principles for according to Canfield, is determining what From there Canfield excelled as a univer-achievin g the astounding—pro- they’re successful at. He suggests asking, sity teacher, a psychotherapist, a syndicated fessionally, financially, inter- “If you could do anything you wanted newspaper columnist and as the founder of personally and spiritually. regardless of money and were guaranteed to three training companies for which he has Canfield worked 16-hour be successful, what would it be?” given motivational speeches to more than days for nine months on He also urges people to reflect on what 1 million people across the United States and Success, which is sprin- success means to them. “A successful per- in more than 20 countries. kled with affir- son is someone who achieves his or her own In the little spare time he has, Canfield mations (such internal set of desires and goals,” says studies success. He has read more than 3,000 as “It’s time to Canfield. “For one person that might books on the subject (more than two per startliving the mean writing a book; for another it week) and has taken hundreds of seminars, life you’ve might mean making a lot of money.” but this is the first time he’s put his thoughts imagined” Success looked out of reach for on success into book form.

Canfield early on. A shy child who “I have a huge urge to share what I know was afraid of getting into trouble, he with people who can use it,” says Canfield. grew up in West Virginia, the son of “Everyone can be more successful if they an alcoholic mother and a workaholic attend to it ... it is the responsibility of the father who earned $8,000 a year. individual to learn more.” C

In writing The Success Principles, Jack Canfield took the best tips from some of the country’s leading doers and thinkers.

DEB ORAH FEIN G OLD

An action plan for small-business owners

Jack Canfield offers the following tips to aid small- get distracted from your goals, so meet
business owners in their quest for success. weekly with your partner to review long-term
1. Quit making excuses for not being successful, goals and to set weekly goals,” says Canfield.
such as blaming the economy, state laws, etc. 6. Learn to delegate. Delegate things that aren’t
2. State your goals in measurable terms; i.e., your genius, and learn how to utilize the right
open 10 offices, determine a specific net- employees in the right positions. Be creative.
profit goal, etc. Save money by trading services or enlisting
3. Come up with a plan on how to reach your the help of retired businesspeople or family
goals. How many sales do you need to reach and friends. “You’d be surprised by how many
your goal? What will help you accomplish people are willing to help,” Canfield says.
your goal? Whether it’s marketing, joining the 7. Ask for feedback on everything, scoring on a
local chamber of commerce, attending job scale of one to 10. What is it your customers
fairs or handing out business cards, plot out don’t like? Are you open at inconvenient
specific strategies and be proactive. hours? Are you lacking an Internet presence?

4. Review your goals frequently, asking yourself If anything rates less than a 10, ask what it what you can do to expand your business. would take to get a 10.

For example, don’t let yourself leave the office 8. Persevere and don’t be afraid to try new until you have five ideas. things. “Success takes time, effort, persever-