Envy? Us?

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

A Bronze level “Jim Rohn 1-Year Success Plan” is $179, a Silver is $299, and a Gold is $499. A subscription to Success Magazine, a Jim Rohn publication, is about $35 for a year. Who was Jim Rohn?

Rohn was one of a long line of American entrepreneurs who sold plans and strategies for success and achievement and leadership in one’s field, whatever that may be. If you are a fan of Tony Robbins, you are a fan of Jim Rohn by extension. According to Robbins, Rohn was one of his mentors, and he got his start selling plans like the ones cited above. (I am agnostic on the topic of self-betterment entrepreneurs, but I am a believer in the grace and beauty of getting to know oneself, which is something that all successfulness sellers sell.)

Rohn died in 2009 at age 79 and left behind a self-improvement business empire. He also left us with many quotes, such as, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” And, “Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.” And, “Don’t join an easy crowd. You won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform and achieve are high.” And, “Success is what you attract by the person you become.” And last, “The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. The ultimate expression of life is living a good life.” (Apparently Rohn was a big believer in the rule of three.)
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Today in History: March 16

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Jerry Lewis is 90 today. In an interview published yesterday, he calls it a “monster number.”

He was already one the top comics and part of one of the top nightclub and movie duos (Martin & Lewis) when he and Dean Martin decided to add philanthropy to the act. His annual television extravaganza on behalf of MDA raised more than $2.5 billion for medical research over the course of four and a half decades.

He is one of the oddest of our great movie comics: so vulnerable and yet super-sensitive to being called vulnerable, as a kid from a tough neighborhood would be, that he masks it by being always “ON,” always ludicrous, always a step beyond silly. Which makes his characters yet more vulnerable. Here is a glimpse:
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Help #SaveThe3

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

If the United States government truly stands for freedom and democracy, it must stop Saudi Arabia from carrying out this egregious violation of basic human rights. It must pressure King Salman to release all political prisoners, including Ali Mohamed al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon, and Abdullah al-Zaher, who were all minors at the time of their arrest.—a petition, “Ban Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia Until They End Juvenile Executions”

An online friend of this website, Esha P., started a petition today to demand the United States to “Ban Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia Until They End Juvenile Executions” via the activist website MoveOn.org. (Full disclosure: mine is the third signature on it.) I urge readers to sign it, too.
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