The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Paperback)

by Jack Canfield (Author), Janet Switzer (Author) "One of the most pervasive myths in the American culture today is that we are entitled to a great life - that somehow, somewhere, someone..." (more)
Key Phrases: core genius, inner coach, victory log, New York, United States, Mark Victor Hansen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
If there's anyone qualified to write a self-help book on success, it's Jack Canfield, who's worked his way from scraping by as a teacher to holding a Guinness world record for having seven books simultaneously on The New York Times® Best Sellers list.

As a coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, he's sold more than 80 million books, and now lives "in a beautiful California estate" with his days of dining on spaghetti and tomato paste long behind him. "All you have to do is decide what it is you want, believe you deserve it, and practice the principles in this book," he says, and success is yours.

His advice is straightforward (examples: "reject rejection" and "surround yourself with successful people"), but rather derivative, with quotes from the likes of JFK, Colin Powell, Aldous Huxley, and fellow motivation author Napoleon Hill.Canfield's definition of success is primarily monetary, and he includes plenty of anecdotes depicting average folks who saved themselves from the brink of bankruptcy after following his principles. He could tone down the braggadocio; readers don't need to know that he's stayed in resorts in Hawaii, Italy, Australia, and Morocco. Despite those gripes, his cheerleader-caliber enthusiasm should benefit anyone looking to improve their lot in life. --Erica Jorgensen

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

 Jack Canfield, creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, reveals secrets to success with 64 timeless principles in The Success Principles. Get a successful start right now and watch a video featuring Jack Canfield and his words of wisdom on how to transform your life, how to take responsibility, and why his new book is suited for everyone.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly
When it comes to success, Canfield knows of what he speaks: he is co-creator, with Mark Victor Hansen, of the seemingly endless Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He presents 64 success principles that he claims "always work"—and draws on his own experience and that of others to illustrate them. Sixty-four principles may seem like a lot, but each receives a concise, easy-to-digest chapter that challenges readers to risk creating their lives exactly as they want them. Many of the principles are familiar—e.g., "Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life"—but Canfield has a nifty way of summarizing them ("Reject rejection"), and some are inventive: "Become an Inverse Paranoid" means see the world as out to help you instead of out to get you. He also offers specific techniques, such as positive-thinking exercises and visualizations. A section on transformation provides even more on how to overcome self-defeating beliefs, fears and habits. Further sections offer principles on building good teams and better relationships at the office. Canfield acknowledges his predecessors in the success advice field, such as Napoleon Hill, and is also clear that while he gives information, motivation, and inspiration, readers must contribute their own hard work. Canfield's energy and enthusiasm bounce off the page; many will flock to this inspiring (and very rich) teacher. And those starting off in business or in need of a refresher course may consider this title required reading.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060594896
• ISBN-13: 978-0060594893
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (306 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,604 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

170 of 181 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Landmark Resource!, March 21, 2005

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

Most peoples' bookshelves are weighed down with self-help books. Some teach you how to lose weight. Others refocus your financial development. Still others help you with relationships. Yet others look at better habits. And others propound moral principles to guide you. What most of these books have in common is that they are usually superseded by a new and better book . . . soon after being published. How can you hope to keep up? Well, you couldn't . . . until now.

Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer have created something different in the self-help literature -- a compendium of the principles that have stood the test of time. I didn't find a single source of ideas that I like (except those that are only grounded in my religious beliefs) that wasn't included here somewhere.

The book is organized in several sections to make these references easier to follow: The Fundamental of Success (which includes principles like Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life, Be Clear Why You're Here, Decide What You Want, Believe It's Possible, Believe in Yourself, Unleash the Power of Goal-Setting, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Be Willing to Pay the Price, Reject Rejection, Use Feedback to Your Advantage, Commit to Constant and Never-Ending Improvement, Practice Persistence, and Exceed Expectations); Transform Yourself for Success (which includes principles like Drop Out of the "Ain't It Awful" Club . . . and Surround Yourself with Successful People, Acknowledge Your Positive Past, Face What Isn't Working, Transform Your Inner Critic into an Inner Coach, Stay Motivated with the Masters, and Fuel Your Success with Passion and Enthusiasm); Build Your Success Team; Creative Successful Relationships; Success and Money; and Success Starts Now.

The authors also provide many free tools to help you succeed.

If the strength of this approach is that you cover the waterfront of sound principles, the weakness is that the coverage is pretty thin in places. That will be the gripe of many people against this book. But unless it was to be 2,000 pages long, that weakness is unavoidable. The suggested reading and other references in the back, however, are more than adequate to lead someone to deeper resources where they are needed.

I only noticed one unmitigated weakness in the book: a preference for evolutionary change and improvement rather than encouraging readers to develop breakthrough skills as well.

To give you a sense of how valuable I found this book, I persuaded the dean of the university where I teach to let me launch a new course for self-improvement based on The Success Principles as the text. This one book will replace what many students are now acquiring through taking as many as six other courses. I see that as an important step forward for their educations . . . and yours, too, if you read and apply this book as I have been doing since I read it. I've seen immediate results . . . and believe that you will, too!

If you are a writer, you will also enjoy the many places in the book where Mr. Canfield shares lessons from his remarkable success with developing the series, Chicken Soup for the Soul.

If you have already read much of the success literature, you probably think this book isn't for you. I beg to differ. Seeing so many good ideas in one book will help you weld together good habits and actions in even more constructive ways.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new trusted guide and inspiring motivator, December 15, 2004

By	Cliff Durfee "Cliff" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

After getting The Success Principles home, I was totally blown away at its thorough coverage of the subject. I am so used to getting a book of 7 this or 10 that's, that now those books seem very incomplete in comparison. This book has 64 chapters each devoted to addressing success from all standpoints, and just as important, giving me the 'how' to get there from where I am. I am so inspired to try everything out! There are also personal true stories to show how these principles work in the real world. There is a chapter on "Tell the Truth Faster" and even though I feel I am a very honest person, the story about Marilyn Tam telling the truth to the CEO of Nike really impressed me. I realized that telling the truth is more than saying the truth, it is also not withholding things that might be uncomfortable, shocking, risky, or controversial. I now have a concrete example of how it worked for Marilyn and Nike and am now committed to using it more in my life.

I also liked the fact that the chapters are all self contained. I'm so busy, I seldom read novels and I prefer short stories. I can open this book to any interesting topic from "Ask! Ask! Ask!" to " Transform your inner critic into an inner coach" and in no time I have new revelations. By the way, even on the subject of asking which I thought I knew something about, the contents brought a smile to my face because I know the 5 tips described there could get me powerful results. All the chapters seem well thought out, but this one might have an especially strong punch because it says that Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen wrote a whole book just on the science of asking. This includes anything from a favor to a raise, or even a large contract. The fifth tip by the way is "Ask repeatedly." Even though 5 year-old's know this, as adults we are conditioned to forget to ask again, or we take a no as a personal rejection, or we just give up. However, conditions and people change with time and a yes on the third asking can be just as sweet. Even in relationships how often has one even failed to ask the first time and then blamed the other for now fulfilling a desire? The Success Principles has really opened my eyes in the area of asking.

The only downside to this book that I can think of is wishing it had been published about 10 years ago. However, using the title of chapter 63, "Start Now!... Just Do It!" I'm taking a chapter/concept at a time, right now, and applying it in my life. This book is now my trusted guide and inspiring motivator for success.

56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Pocketful of Platitudes, April 11, 2005

By	Antigone Walsh - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

Although immense, this book contains nothing new. This is not surprising as the author made his Chicken Soup fortune by taking the (uncompensated) stories of others and marketing them brillantly.

The aggravation generated by the continuous name-dropping and self-promotion was only surpassed by the endless plugs of products by friends and family.

The advice is frequently contradictory and hypocritical. For instance, it is suggested that one contact a successful person to be a mentor. That successful person, it is proposed, would be flattered and delighted to help the novice/wannabee. That is, of course,unless the novice/wannabee wants to work with the author. Don't bother, because one of his "rules" is that he never works with inexperienced writers, the learning curve is too high, etc, etc. Similarly, be sure to get a prenupt--not only will you protect your riches and not have to share, your partner will no doubt to be happy to demonstrate that forgoing your assets is a sign of their deep and abiding love of you.

I do not doubt that some people will find the suggestions in the book helpful and most of them are valid. However, this same material has been covered in greater detail by others. This book is superficial, a mere outline, the bones without the meat.