Jim left his body today, December 5th at 2:30 am Pacific time.
I first met Jim when I was 19 years old, his teachings were key in inspiring me to source the courage to elevate my thinking and transform every area of my life. Our first encounter was at a Tony Robbins Christmas party he was my “buddy” and we were asked to share a magic moment … he shared his moment with me which was a time where an audience of thousands sang a song for an audience of one (he was the one) … then it was my turn to share a magic moment … and I said, “it’s this moment right here and right now with you.”
Prior to meeting him, I had been religiously listening to his audio cassettes {no cd’s at the time} in my car, searching for insights and wisdom to change my circumstances and create a purposeful and prosperous life. I was a kid who was lost, struggling, unhappy, and searching for answers, committed to find them, and Jim offered wisdom that I took to heart. Before I met Jim in person, he had already made an incredibly profound impact on my life through his tapes. I listened to him as though my life depended on it, and at the time in a way it did. I remember Jim saying, “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job … if you work on your job you’ll make a living, if you work on yourself, you’ll make a fortune.” I remember him teaching me about the seasons and how our lives mirrored nature. I remember his loving and firm voice saying, “Of Course” as he affirmed his point. Jim’s teachings were fundamental in guiding and inspiring me to work with Tony Robbins (who was also mentored by Jim). He was a wonderful teacher who positively impacted the lives of millions.
13 years after meeting Jim at the Christmas party, I had the honor of speaking at the Success Symposium for the launch of Success Magazine and I was to open the days event and share the stage with Jim. Jim was being honored at this event and he was unable to attend as he was not feeling well, but he called in via phone and his radiant presence and vibrant spirit was with all of us – he was in our hearts. 4,000 people were present and I had lost my voice that day, but my deepest joy and desire to share with the participants and express my gratitude for Jim’s impact in my life elevated my being above the momentary challenge of laryngitis and I experienced a miracle. I could hear Jim encouraging me to rise above circumstances – his words giving me strength. That day, I felt as though my life had come full circle. Today, I honor and celebrate Jim’s life with deep gratitude in my heart and a prayer on my lips. Jim, I am holding you in the most high. Infinite love, boundless blessings and eternal peace, xoxo.
{ 14 comments }
That was a beautiful tribute, Niurka. Thank you. Jim Rohn meant a lot to me as well. I have been listening to his tapes for quite some time, and as recently as last week. He was a true original and such a magnetic speaker. While I am sad to hear of his passing, I celebrate his life knowing he lived his life to the fullest. He made a difference to so many thousands of people. He will continue to make a difference for me.
Thank you for sharing this experience with us Niurka. Jim was one of the worlds greatest business philosophers ever and his words of wisdom will remain with all of us forever.
Hi Niurka. I got your link from your facebook page. This was a very touching and amazing tribute. I remember seeing you for the first time at the success symposium in July in anaheim, CA and i was also anticipating getting to see Jim Rohn live for the very first time. He was there with us (not physically) and I am very greatful to Mr. Rohn for spreading his knowledge and his words of wisdom so that we may all learn and grow. I am definitely sad to hear of his passing but I also understand that as Mr. Rohn says at the end of his talks, no matter what, wherever we go, he goes with us and we all go with him. He will be missed but not forgotten. Again thank you for sharing and it is so amazing that you got the priveledge to meet him and work with him. Thank you again.
Thank You Niurka, for sharing your wonderful and powerfully motivating experiences with Jim Rohn. I too was touched and blessed to have talked with Jim Rohn. I attended a full day in Newport Beach California, hearing Jim’s inspiring, calm, insightful words of wisdom. He was so unlike many other highly visual or auditory speakers, with his kinesthetic “feeling” presents, I wrote down every word as he spoke, and reflected on my own life and that of others. He makes one ask, “What can i do to help others to be the very best they can be emotionally and physically?” I am so sorry to hear his physical presence is gone, yet I know his spirit lives on in great speakers like Niurka, Tony and others he as touched. I too have all of his tapes which clearly tell us to grow from within now and everyday. Be the very best you can be. Show others the light, and the light will reflect back the answers you seek. Love to all NickPhD.com
Thank You Niurka for you post. Jim does not know me yet has had such an amazing positive impact on me and the life of my family. Jim was with me on every AA flight I was on as I traveled more than 200,000 “air-miles” over the past 10 seven years planting for my harvest. His CD’s still play in my head everyday in everything I do. When I am up against an obstacle I think of his “Ant Theory” and I always seem to “find another way”. His presence here on earth will impact generations. I know that he will be missed and always loved. I am sad today, however know that Jim is happy. I am sad today yet so thankful of the impact Jim Rohn made on all of us. -Eric
Hi Niurka,
Jim was an amazing man. He has a big impact on my life as well. I wrote a blog post about my relationship with him as well. Here is the post.
Jim Rohn was one of the most significant people in the history of personal development. He had a major impact on many people including me.
The most valuable lesson I learned from Jim Rohn was journaling.
On July 13, 1999 I was invited to a Jim Rohn seminar from my friend Courtland (I know the exact date because it was written in my journal). Courtland was one of Jim’s relatives so he knew Jim very well. The seminar started at noon. I arrived at Courtland office around 11 am. On the way over to the seminar Courtland handed me a present. I opened it up. It was a beautiful hardbound journal. Courtland said “You can’t attend a Jim Rohn seminar without a journal!” Courtland had purchased the same journal for Jim. Courtland told me Jim had taught him to do things in pairs. So when Courtland purchased the journal for Jim he picked up a second one for me.
Courtland and I sat in the front row that day. I took 13 pages of notes that day. Because I took the notes in a journal it helped me remember the key ideas Jim shared. In fact I was reviewing the notes from that day just recently. My favorite quote from Jim that day was:
“Service to many leads to greatness.” Jim Rohn
At the end of the day Courtland asked Jim if he would have coffee with us. When the seminar ended we had coffee with Jim Rohn at the Disneyland Hotel. That was then only meeting I ever had face to face with Jim. At that time I was just getting started in sales training. Jim was so kind to me. He treated me as a peer even though I was just getting started.
I had such a great experience journaling that day that I made it a habit. I have now been journaling for the last 10 years. Journaling has had such a big impact on my life that I have been encouraging my students to journal for many years. Thousands of my students now journal!
This all happened because Jim taught Courtland to journal who taught me to journal.
Here is a specific way to apply journaling to help you.
Anytime you attend a seminar, training, conference call, or team meeting have a hardbound or leather bound journal with you. By making this a habit you will permanently capture all the great ideas that you learn. After attending a 1 or 2 day seminar review your notes in your journal for 15 minutes per night for the next two weeks.
Here is another great Jim Rohn quote.
“Your goal is to share these ideas with others.”
Jim also had a big impact on my life through Tony Robbins. Tony worked for Jim. That is how Tony Robbins broke into the training industry.
Jim will live on through the people like me he has impacted that will continue to share with others what he has shared with us.
It is wonderful to hear how Jim has impacted your lives. Thank you for Sharing!
Eric, Journaling has been so powerful for me also. Much love, niurka
Dear Niurka,
Thank you so much for sharing what Jim meant to you. I am at a loss of words, somewhat, as his Work and Wisdom meant so much to me as well. Please pardon me if this seems a little disjointed.
There was a time in my life as well when I was looking for answers. I had lost a business, marriage and relationship with my family all at once. I ended up homeless and without transportation living in an extended-stay hotel. There were a few items which I made ABSOLUTELY sure to bring with me, though, one of which was Jim’s tapes.
In the Sweet and Loving, but Firm way that only Jim could do, he reminded me that I alone was responsible for where I was in life, and that my greatest asset was myself, and if I worked on myself enough, I was virtually guaranteed success. He had a unique gift of never comprimising, but never offending when giving advice that endeared him to me, and his kindness will never be forgotten.
I don’t usually share the details of my biography since I’m not in the type of business that requires one, so forgive me if this seems abbreviated, but I hope I have conveyed that without people like Jim, success would have come for those touched by his Life and Work, but the journey was much less painful knowing that a Loving Mentor was just a recording away.
Thank you again, Niurka!
-DF
Niurka,
I loved reading about your experience with Jim. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful life is when it allows us to meet each other on our journeys.
I remember the day that you walked into my office 13 years ago… a wide eyed go-getter! Months later you were working directly for Tony and only a few years later, working in your Dana Point HeadQuarters on your own. You are the few who the many look to for inspiration. You are one of the few that share your heart and your desire to make this amazing world we live in much more amazing and wonderful
Thank you for learning and leading others to learn.
Dominic
Niurka, thank you for this beautiful tribute to a great friend and world influence. Jim Rohn has crossed into spirit, returned to the love he is! His time on earth was complete Saturday morning at 2:30. He has been dealing with pulmonary fibrosis for 18 months and last week had a massive heart attack that weakened him even more.I was just beginning day 2 of Esperanza’s Mastering Your Life when I got the sad call on Saturday morning. As we began the program, we invited Jim’s spirit to join us and merge with the Master’s who were present for this program, and many, even some who had no idea who Jim Rohn is, felt his presence very deeply in that room!
He touched the lives of so many, millions really. When I think about all who he touched and all they touched, the ripple of his life has created waves felt around the world and beyond!I wanted to add a bit from my experience with him for the 8 years working with JIm, in a sales capacity through running his company in 1984. For 33 years I have been one of his biggest fans and have lived a life touched by his words…
He was in my thoughts, prayers and meditations constantly over these past months, remembering so many times of my life with him. I would like to share a couple memories here… I met Jim Rohn in 1976, when at the age of 18, I went to my first Rohn seminar at the Westin So. Coast Plaza Hotel in Orange County. I decided he represented the idea of the life I imagined for myself. He said things that mattered and did it in easy-to-remember stories and quotes, thousands of which still come out in my activities today. There are certainly many people who I have enjoyed being with in my 50+ years, but 4 who have sculpted the fabric of who I am: my mom, my grandfather, my spiritual teacher, Esperanza Universal and Jim Rohn.
As I have shared with Jim many times, he became a father figure to me. And he was a great one, because even when we were not together, the lessons he taught me stayed with me for years and served me well. He is a part of almost every single day of my life. Jim Rohn has always had a special place in my life and in my heart. I feel fortunate to have known him and so grateful for every moment I have ever spent with him. My life, as it has turned out up to this point, is very much a reflection of many things he taught me and the tremendous influence he had in my life.
My 30+ years of journals are filled with special memories and times with Jim. I remember listening to Jim speak to our team after the our seminars were done and how honored I felt to just be there. One time we did a retreat in Rancho Bernardo where I won some awards for top sales in Jim’s company, and he made it greater with the words he shared with me. I have thought of many special memories of trips we made together when we were working so closely with so many network marketing companies. Wow! That was wild. He was a “Rock Star” and the standing ovations started when you showed up! I also remember a trip I made with Jim for some event, and we made it to New York. We did drinks, dinner and dessert at 3 different locations, including Mama Leoni’s, all places you had told me were his favorites that I wanted to experience with him. Too many memories to recount, but know all of these and more were significant to me! I worked with and became friends of Tony Robbins in Jim’s Adventures in Achievement. Many of the greats in the speaking world started with Jim, or were influenced by his programs in their early years, and I had the pleasure to get to know them through the amazing programs Jim did!
So Mr. Rohn, thank you for your words of encouragement, your ideas and philosophies and for the gift of your influence on my life. Jim, there is no way I will ever express the depth of my gratitude for you and all you taught me. You are always in my heart and will remain in my prayers… and I believe we will travel together again.
Hi Niurka,
Thank you for sharing this news with me. I am saddened for our loss but rejoice that Jim has been freed from his illness and is now chilling with the Angels. No doubt that they are all in their seats taking detailed notes from the most influential speaker of all time.
As I read your post, I started thinking about the times you and I shared, starting in Atlanta for our first event as FSR’s, talking about Jim’s philosophy and how we had lived our lives up to that point. It was clear that each of us – both of us – needed to make changes.
And we did. When you left Success Club in Philadelphia to work the Brian Tracy event in NYC and I left the company to promote a Jeffrey Gitomer event in Dallas I knew we were both destined for bigger things. Shortly after that, when you had joined Tony Robbins and I joined Jim Rohn – I thought about our conversations on the floor in that little apartment in Philly, and had to smile.
Both of us understood that “success was not to be pursued. It was to be attracted by the person we become” and as we had both made the changes in the set of our sail, no one could have been surprised that we attracted good things into our lives.
Through all the miles and the thousands of presentations to sell event tickets, Jim and his message was in my car the whole time. Times I’ll not forget include sitting down to dinner with Jim at Lydia Colon’s home in Miami as well at the times I sat and spoke with him after our seminars.
Thank you for sharing your special memories of him with all of your readers, friends and fans!
Your friend and BIG fan!
Scott Dennison
Wow! That was beautiful! Jim has also been in my life for 18 years plus and has inspired me, taught me and broadened my entire world! What a blessing to have seen him speak several times throughout my life. he was amazing and will be missed!
thank you all for opening your heart and sharing ur journey with Jim. i am grateful to share this this life with you:) xoxo
Niurka thank you for such a wonderful Tribute to Mr Rohn: I met Mr Rohn 30 years ago with Brian Tracy and Zig Ziggler and those three men had been my path to all of my success in the years. from my Navy Seals Days to the fight days of the Martial Arts World titles to the success of today. Jim was a prince of a man….. He will be missed !
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