Monday, December 5, 2011

What does it take to succeed?

A few years ago I came across an author and a book you may have never heard of before.

The author’s name is Og Mandino and the book is titled:  The University of Success.

He also wrote the best-selling book, The Greatest Salesman in the World. In total, his books have sold over 50 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 different languages.

He was the president of Success Unlimited magazine until 1976 and is an inductee of the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame.

If you are in sales, Og Mandino may be one of your favorites.

But you may not know what it took for Mandino to achieve his success.

His mother died when he was still in high school … and his plans of attending the University of Missouri’s Journalism School didn’t happen. Instead, he went to work in a paper mill and after a short while, decided to join the Army Air Corps.

He became a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator in Europe during the heavy air strikes of WWII. He flew 30 bombing missions over Germany. But, after the war, Mandino found there weren’t any jobs for bomber pilots – so he began a career in insurance sales. With long days on the road and nights spent sitting in bars, Mandino became an alcoholic. His wife took their only child and left him. He was so despondent that he considered suicide.

But he couldn’t quit.

He went to the libraries in the cities where he worked and began reading 100’s of self-help books. His favorites were books by W. Clement Stone, Napolean Hill, Emmet Fox, and the Bible. He took what he learned and changed his life.

He believed that every person on earth is a miracle. He believed that you must take action now -- not tomorrow, but now.  He also knew that successful people charted their own course of action and chose how they wanted to live their lives. His books share these messages.

In The University of Success, Mandino details the course all must follow who would be successful.

If you’ve never read this book, now is a great time to do it. If you don’t have it, give it to yourself this Christmas. Share it with others. Learn the secrets that the greats have to share with you. Change your life now for the better. And I promise, you’ll have more success in 2012 than you can imagine.

Good Selling!

J  Dana





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