Article Surfing Archive

Brian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and corporations. Brian addresses more than 250,000 people each year. He is the best selling author of more than 40 books and over 300 audio and video learning programs. He produces far more books, audiotapes and video programs than anyone else in the field. In addition to his busy speaking schedule, Brian Tracy writes about 4 new books each year and produces at least one new audio-learning program. He is happily married and very wealthy.

But things weren't always so good for Brian Tracy. He was born into a poor family in Canada. For most of his growing up years the phrase he heard the most was "We can't afford it." Most of his clothes came from charities.

Brian Tracy figured that this was the way everyone lived - but as he grew up he started to notice that some people had much nicer homes, yards and cars than his family did. He starting asking the question, "Why is it that some people are more successful than others?"

Brian had other problems as well - he goofed off in school and ran around with a bad group of kids. Parents would even warn their kids, "If you don't shape up you'll end up like Tracy!" Brian quit school his senior year and got a job. Wanting to see the world, he started traveling and working hard labor jobs - traveling somewhere and working to earn money until he could move on to another place. He sometimes didn't have any place to sleep except his car or the ground next to his car.

He eventually got a job as a commission-based salesman, collecting his commissions each night so he could pay for his boarding. He made an important decision - he asked the number one salesman how he was doing so well and started implementing some of his ideas. During this time Brian Tracy also studied everything about success he could get his hands on. He read about sales, success, money, relationships and everything else he could.

Brian started to succeed in sales and eventually started teaching others how to be successful. He had collected so many powerful ideas and tools over the years that he put together a program now called "The Psychology of Success."

Brian Tracy says that the most important skill for success is the ability to set clear, specific goals and then to make detailed plans for their accomplishment. At the same time, though, you must be continually learning and developing new skills and abilities.