Twelve Pillars [Paperback]

Jim Rohn (Author), Chris Widener (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Paperback - Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn & Chris Widener (NEW RELEASE!)

Who would guess that when Michael Jones' car broke down on the side of the road that it would be the beginning of a life-changing relationship?

Walking to the nearest house, Michael stumbles across a plantation style mansion on an estate named "Twelve Pillars." Charlie, the estate's caretaker, helps Michael get back on the road again and also strikes up a relationship with him - and along the way teaches Michael the secrets of success - the Twelve Pillars of Success - that have made the owner of the house, Mr. Davis, a wealthy and successful man.

This new novel by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener will inspire you to take your life to the next level and beyond. It will challenge and encourage you to become the best that you can be!

Twelve Pillars blends together the fundamental principles and teachings of Jim Rohn and The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan, and with the help of Chris Widener, those principles have been weaved into a unique tapestry of a fictional account of three characters – Michael, Charlie and Mr. Davis.

Here are a few of the lessons you will discover in the Twelve Pillars of Success:

Live a Life of Three-Dimensional Health
The Gift of Relationships
Achieving Your Goals and the Proper Use of Time
Surrounding Yourself with the Best People
Becoming a Life-Long Learner
Income Seldom Exceeds Personal Development
Communication Brings the Common Ground of Understanding
The World Can Always Use One More Great Leader
Leaving a Legacy

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Chris Widener is one of the best speakers in America today. He is extremely motivational, funny, sharp and quick." -- Brian Tracy

"Jim Rohn is one of the most profound thinkers and mind-expanding individuals I've ever listened to." -- Les Brown

"Jim Rohn is the master motivator--he has style, substance, charisma, relevance, charm and what he says makes a difference." --Mark Victor Hansen

About the Author

Chris Widener
THE LEADER of a New Generation of
Personal Development and Leadership Experts

Chris Widener is an example of how anyone can overcome any odds to achieve a successful life and help others achieve the same. Chris has overcome many obstacles... living through his father’s sudden death when he was four, being sent away from his family to live with relatives at age nine and becoming involved with drugs and alcohol by the age of twelve.

Chris overcame those obstacles and has been speaking professionally since 1988 and has shared the stage with US Presidential candidates, nationally known television news anchors, best-selling authors and professional athletes. He has spoken on motivation and leadership to some of America's finest organizations such as General Electric, Cisco Systems and the Harvard Business School.

Chris has written over 350 articles, 5 books and has produced more than 30 audio CD programs on leadership and motivation. His articles appear monthly in close to 100 publications.

Chris is also a contributor to The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan.

Chris, his wife Lisa, and their four children make their home in a suburb of Seattle, Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Jim Rohn International; 1st edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972626638
• ISBN-13: 978-0972626637
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris Widener is a seasoned businessman, a best-selling author, coach and consultant to CEOs and other C-level executives, as well as a dynamic speaker recognized worldwide. Author of over 400 articles and twelve books, Chris has produced more than 85 audio programs on the subjects of leadership, influence and motivation. He is also a writer for SUCCESS magazine. He can be found on the web at www.ChrisWidener.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting March 16, 2011

By MQ

Format:Paperback

"Twelve Pillars" is a story about Michael Jones and a life changing experience he is about to have when his car breaks down on the side of the road. Michael a middle aged salesman, feels he works hard, has nothing to show for it and that his life is going nowhere.
Walking to the nearest house for help, he comes across the "Twelve Pillars Estate" and meets Charlie, the caretaker for the property. Twelve Pillars is a large beautiful mansion style house with twelve large white pillars on the front of it, which intrigues Michael. As Charlie begins to help Michael gets his car working and Michael begins to ask him about the homes pillars. Charlie tells him the pillars have significant meaning to the home owner Mr. Davis. They have made him a very wealthy, successful man and represent his method for success. Michael becomes more curious than even about the pillars and a relationship between him and Charlie begins.
Months pass since Michael's car had broken down and whatever he could he would make time to visit the estate to learn the story of each pillar from Charlie. Charlie always anticipated Michael's arrival and looked forward to their visits.
Michael had learned the importance of eleven pillars and six weeks would pass until he would learn about the twelfth one. The lessons he had already learned had made a major impact in his life so he was looking forward to the learning about the last one.
When Michael arrived that day to meet Charlie the gate of the estate was closed and he did not see Charlie anywhere in sight. He rang the buzzer and met Mrs. Davis, Mr. Davis' wife for the first time. Charlie was available but that day Michael learns the lesson behind the twelfth pillar and understands its importance.
When he learns the estate he is sad yet excited and he makes a promise to use the twelve pillars every day of his life and to pass on the lessons he learned from Mr. Davis.
Pillar 1: Work Harder on Yourself Than You Do on Your Job
Pillar 2: Live a Life of Health
Pillar 3: The Gift of Relationships
Pillar 4: Achieve Your Goals
Pillar 5: The Proper Use of Time
Pillar 6: Surround Yourself with the Best People
Pillar 7: Be a Life-Long Learner
Pillar 8: All of Life Is Sales
Pillar 9: Income Seldom Exceeds Personal Development
Pillar 10: Communication Brings the Common Ground of Understanding
Pillar 11: The World Can Always Use One More Great Leader
Pillar 12: Leave a Legacy

Jim Rohn and Chris Widener took three simple characters and put them together in a story to teach the fundamental principles they have been lecturing about for over 40 years. It is the first book of a two book series. The second book is "Above All Else" by Chris Widener, where the story of Michael continues and how he has used the lessons of the pillars to work in his life.
"Twelve Pillars" is a short, simple read with a very powerful, profound effect. This is not only a book I would recommend; it is a book I would read several more times, especially when I need a reminder on living a more fulfilled life. Not only did I enjoy the story, I enjoyed learning the lessons behind each pillar. Each represents a choice we make in our lives; they can be applied to business but can also be applied to our daily lives. The twelve pillars can inspire us to set goals, dream big and make us be the best that we could be.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book June 9, 2006

By Greg Gillum

Format:Paperback

If you want a book that introduces success principles in a quick, easy, and fun format, get this book. If you are a follower of Jim Rohn's material as I have been for many years, than some of it will be familiar, but introduced in a story form.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple but Very Powerful Principles of Success September 14, 2008

By Alain B. Burrese TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Jim Rohn has been imparting wisdom and sharing his success philosophies and principles for over thirty years. Chris Widener is a rather newcomer to the field of personal development compared with Rohn, but he has also shared the stage with some impressive people sharing his wisdom through speaking and writing. Now these two personal development professionals have teamed up to write a short little novel that contains a tremendous amount of wisdom in twelve secrets of success.

The book is short, only 120 pages, and very easy to read. It is a story of a young man named Michael. After his car breaks down, Michael meets an old man named Charlie. Charlie teaches Michael about the twelve Pillars of Success. The Pillars, or lessons, are very simple, but that does not mean they are not extremely powerful. If you really take what Rohn and Widener are teaching through this story to heart, you will undoubtedly achieve more and live a more productive and happy life. You will live a life that is much more fulfilling and be rewarded with more meaningful relationships.

Just because the lessons are simple, does not mean they are necessarily simple to incorporate into your life. However, if you have this little book there to remind you and keep you on track, you will surely become a more successful person.

I really enjoyed the story and I'm sure I'll read it again and again each time I need a quick boost and reminder of those things to focus on. It is such a quick read with so powerful a message, I'd encourage everyone to read it more than once. Let the lessons these two teach sink in and make sure you act upon them.

This book by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener will surely inspire you to take your life to the next level and beyond. It will challenge and encourage you to become the best that you can be. All you need to do is read it, learn from it, and take action on the twelve pillars of success.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.