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Charlie “Tremendous” Jones was a legend in personal development. he ranked right up there with luminaries such as Norman Vincent Peale, Og Mandino, and Robert Schuller. He was great.
Unfortunately, he passed away in 2008. He left us, though, with books, speeches, videos, and, most importantly, a daughter.
That daughter, Tracey Jones, now heads Tremendous Life Books and continues to produce some of the finest personal development books in the world.
It was a privilege and an honor to interview Tracey Jones for the 37th episode of the Master Key Coaching Teleseminars.
Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
I remember the first time I spoke with Charlie Jones. I was a young, green publisher looking for outlets for the few books I was publishing. As Haanel wrote in The Master Key System,
We make money by making friends, and we enlarge our circle of friends by making money for them, by helping them, by being of service to them.
A friend pointed me in the direction of Mr. Jones and I gave him a call.
The first five minutes (I am not exaggerating!) of the conversation was Charlie Jones delivering the most funny one-liners I had heard in a while. Not only were they funny, but they came one after another in a spitfire fashion. Before I even had a chance to catch my breath, another joke was thrown my way.
Then, without too much of a warning, the jokes stopped and we talked books for a few moments. Just as funny as he was when the conversation began, he was serious when we discussed my books and what I was looking to do. He gave me good advice that has helped me over the years.
I spent a total of about ten minutes on the phone with the man but I felt like I had known him a lifetime. That’s the kind of man he was.
He started life as a poor Southern boy, made his bones in the insurance business, and went on to write one of the perennial books in personal development, Life Is Tremendous, which has sold over two million copies to date.
He then started a publishing company, Executive Books, which became one of the finest producers of personal development books.
You’ll hear all about the ride when you listen to the episode. This just scratches the surface.
Some Wit & Wisdom from Life Is Tremendous
Remember what I said about The Master Key System and how we should all learn it? I said that rather than just learning it, we should strive to understand it. Remember now?
Well, here’s Charlie Jones with much the same message, written in a much more eloquent fashion.
If you are to profit as countless thousands have, don’t remember what I say here … that’s right: you must not remember what I say. You wonder: “Aren’t you going to say anything worth remembering?” Yes, I am, but the value of this book won’t be in your remembering what I say but rather in remembering what you think as a result of what I say.
Or how about this thought on leadership…
Anyone who is not leading others in life is not really living. Whether you realize it or not, other people lead you in every area of your life, for good or ill. And with every passing moment your own leadership responsibilities are increasing.
On growing…
You know what growing means? Growing means growing pains: it means changing.
Great stuff, yes? Get Life Is Tremendous.
Tracey Jones
Sometimes, when a company’s founder passes the business to his children, the business ends u getting ruined. We’ve all seen that movie and read that book.
That didn’t happen with Executive Books when Tracey Jones took the helm.
Actually, things changed and things became better!
Tracey Jones embodies all of the qualities of an exceptional leader: experience, determination, the ability to learn, the ability to listen … And much more.
She took charge of Executive Books and instead of resting on her laurels, she transformed the company into Tremendous Life Books.
The change not only honors the legacy and memory of Charlie Jones, but points the company toward the future.
When you listen to the interview, you’ll hear how and why she made the changes she made and how Tremendous Life Books is poised to donate over $400,000 (yes, that’s four hundred thousand dollars!) to charities.
Be prepared to be inspired.
Better yet, be prepared to learn how to lead!
This interview was amazing because Tracey, a seasoned speaker herself, shared with us many things we need to become leaders and how to grow from where we are to what we want to become.
Listen to it. Take notes. And most of all, have fun.
Until next week, I wish you the best of everything!