Authors

James Allen (1864 ⎯ 1912)

James Allen, a British author, poet and philosopher is perhaps best known for his famous inspirational work, As a Man Thinketh. Published in 1902, As a Man Thinketh is the quintessential self-help book in which Allen explored the power of thought. He wrote: “Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”

After his father was murdered, Allen had to quit school at age 15 to help support his family. He then worked as a private secretary for manufacturing firms in England, until he decided to devote himself to writing full-time in 1902. As a Man Thinketh was actually Allen’s second book; his first published work was titled From Poverty to Power. He was greatly inspired by the 19th century Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, whose works included War and Peace and The Kingdom of God is Within You.

With his wife and daughter, Allen settled in Devon, England, where he spent nine years contemplating the power of thought and pursuing his literary career. Allen’s personal philosophy first penned in the early 1900s revealed timeless wisdom: “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”

After writing 19 books, James Allen died in 1912 at the age of 47. His wife Lily continued publishing the magazine titled The Epoch, one of two journals for which Allen served as editor. An unassuming author who never became wealthy from his life’s work, Allen’s classic books continue even today to inspire millions of people around the world. His other writings include these books: The Path to Prosperity, The Mastery of Destiny, Light on Life’s Difficulties, and Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success.

Sources: Websites Wikipedia (wikipedia.com), Quotation Collection (quotation collection.com/author/James_Allen), Sun Books (sunbooks.com), Answers.com (answers.com), and Think Exist (en.thinkexist.com).

Author of The Tripping Point in Leadership: Overcoming Organizational Apathy

David Byrd is the president of Leadership Management, Inc., an international training and development company that has been helping people develop and use their full potential since 1966. LMI is located in Waco, Texas.

Before coming to LMI, Byrd received a bachelors and masters degree from the University of South Carolina. He then began a successful career as a high school football coach and later moved up to the collegiate ranks. He began his career at LMI in 1979 as a partner in South Carolina. He relocated to Waco, Texas in 1981 after being invited to join the LMI home office executive staff.

Byrd has over 28 years of experience working with top business executives and their organizations. He credits his success to the influence of Paul J. Meyer, the founder of LMI and a pioneer in the leadership development field. He is the author of The Tripping Point in Leadership: Overcoming Organizational Apathy (Leading Edge Publishing, Feb. 2008). His first book, Lessons for a Lifetime, is a summary of his experiences as an adult Sunday school teacher and was published in the spring of 2005.

Byrd currently resides in Waco, Texas with his wife Mary and he is very active in his church, First United Methodist, where he has served as adult Sunday school teacher for over eighteen years. He has two daughters and five grandchildren. Click here to email David.

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4567 Lake Shore Drive – Waco, Texas – 76710 – (254) 776-2060 – www.lmi-usa-.com

Russell Herman Conwell (1843 ⎯ 1925)

Russell Herman Conwell, an American icon of the 19th century, founded Temple University in 1884 and served as its first president. Born in Massachusetts in 1843, Conwell was a renaissance man of his time. Educated as a lawyer, he was also a writer, soldier, and later a Baptist minister. From 1862 to 1864 Conwell served as a Union Army Captain in the Civil War. It was during Conwell’s service in the Civil War that he became a practicing Christian, but it was nearly 20 years later in 1882 that he began his ministry in Philadelphia at the Grace Baptist Church.

Although a practicing lawyer prior to entering the ministry, it was perhaps his passion for journalism that led Conwell on a most remarkable journey. In the late 1860’s he was a journalist working for the American Traveller Journal, which sent him on a trip around the world as a correspondent. It was during this trip in 1870 that while in Mesopotamia he heard a fascinating legend that would later help to inspire millions: Acres of Diamonds.

It was perhaps Conwell’s gift as an orator and author of Acres of Diamonds for which he is best known today. The premise of his speech that later became a book is rather simple: for the opportunities and success we seek, the best place to begin looking is in our own backyard. The lessons of life ⎯ and rewards of hard work ⎯ that are integral to the speech are inspirational for all. Conwell gave his Acres of Diamonds speech to audiences all over the world, at nearly 6,000 appearances.

Conwell’s Acres of Diamonds book and speech are motivational classics. In large part it was from the proceeds earned from these that Conwell had the financial resources for much of his civic work and the founding of Temple University. His other works include: What You Can Do With Your Will Power and Effective Prayer. Even today, Conwell’s writings are still considered some of the most significant contributions to the self-help and motivational genre.

Sources: Websites Wikipedia (wikipedia.org), Temple University (temple.edu), Amazon (amazon.com), and Think Exist (en.thinkexist.com).

Born in San Mateo, California to German immigrant parents, Paul J. Meyer possessed an unstoppable urge to learn, to excel, and to be creative. He began his insurance career immediately after military service and quickly became a top producer, leading two of the nation’s largest life insurance companies. By age 27, he acquired a personal net worth of $1,000,000 from personal production and agency development.

He was then a Sales Executive with Word, Inc., a Waco, Texas firm distributing religious books and records. He built a national sales organization and increased its business 1,500 percent in 24 months, saving the company from going out of business.

It was then, in 1960, that he launched Success Motivation International, Inc. and shortly thereafter Leadership Management, Inc. and Family Motivation International. These firms were established for the purpose of helping people develop their full potential. This has been, and remains, his life-long passion.

Paul J. Meyer is considered by many to be the founder of today’s personal development industry. He was the first to condense books and record them on LP records and then on cassettes.

The product line over the years has expanded to include 27 full-length courses and programs in leadership development, goal setting, attitude, management training, and more. All of these programs contain printed and recorded materials and have combined sales of nearly three billion dollars worldwide. Each program uses spaced repetition effectively, which has been the key to success for millions of people in more than 60 countries.

Paul and his wife, Jane, help support more than 30 charities across the United States and around the world. He was instrumental in founding five charitable foundations to promote education and serve youth, including Passport to Success, founded to provide post-secondary education to economically disadvantaged youth.

Paul began writing books after the age of 70, and in 2008, a few months before turning 80, he launched Slight Edge Publishing, Inc., which is being renamed to The Leading Edge Publishing Company, Inc., a company that is also dedicated to helping people reach their full potential.

Paul has five children and 15 grandchildren and resides in Waco, Texas.

View an article on Paul J. Meyer in the recent Success magazine.

Bill Moyer is the Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. He also serves as the Chief Spiritual Officer of SOS Leadership Institute. He has invested over twenty-five years defining “What Matters Most” as a focus, rather than a question, in this ever-changing world. This focus generates organizational clarity and builds a results-based culture.

Bill has been a successful entrepreneur, building two startup companies, and has served as a senior executive in the Paul J. Meyer Companies including Leadership Management International, Success Motivation Institute, Church Growth International, My-Tyme, Inc, and Creative Education Institute. He has served as a turnaround specialist for four companies and has been an executive coach to many corporate CEO’s and executives.

Bill has spoken to business leaders in 35 countries and 49 states on effective leadership and has authored more than 50 articles in business publications. He is regarded as an expert in “What Matters Most” for business leaders...achieving long-term, sustainable growth through ethical leadership.

Bill resides in Waco, TX, with his wife Rose of over 30 years. He has four children and three grandchildren.

Billy Moyer is the co-founder and President of SOS Leadership Institute, an organization that focuses on developing the heart and soul of the Christian leader. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. He has written and has had published more than 20 articles. He is also an accomplished public speaker and has spoken to groups of all sizes on subjects such as teamwork, self-image, ministry, and goal setting.

He has been around the leadership development industry all of his life where he has learned about the over-whelming power of goal setting and the importance of time management. Most of all he has learned from his father and co-founder of SOS Leadership, the concept of “What Matters Most” in business and in life. He realizes the remarkable importance of living a life of significance. Together, Billy and his father have put on over 150 retreats and have spoken at many other workshops and conventions.

Billy is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. He resides in Austin, Texas.

Alex F. Osborn (1888 ⎯ 1966)

Alex Faickney Osborn, known to many as the “Father of Brainstorming,” was a journalist turned advertising-agency executive. Born in the Bronx Burrough of New York in 1888, he graduated from Hamilton College and began his journalism career at the Buffalo Times. After subsequent positions in sales and publicity, Osborn realized his true passion was advertising.

Along with two colleagues, Osborn helped form the advertising agency BDO (Barton/Durstine/Osborn) in 1919. Nearly a decade later he was instrumental in its merger with another New York firm to create BBDO, today one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. An avid believer in the power of creativity, Osborn also pursued his interests as an author and teacher.

In 1953 Osborn published his fifth and perhaps most well-known book, Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Problem Solving. The following year he founded the Creative Education Foundation, later joining with colleague Sidney Parnes to create the Creative Problem Solving Process (CPS). CPS trainings continue worldwide more than five decades later.

Between 1921 and 1955, Osborn published six books: A Short Course in Advertising, How to “Think Up,” Your Creative Power, Wake Up Your Mind, Applied Imagination, and The Goldmine Between Your Ears. In addition to significant contributions in the world of advertising working on accounts such as General Electric and Du Pont, Osborn has inspired millions to reach success by tapping into their individual power of creativity.

Sources: Websites Wikipedia (wikipedia.com), Accelerate Innovation (accelerate innovation.com), Answers.com (answers.com), article from Time Magazine August 1954 (time.com)

Born in England and now resident in Trinidad, West Indies, it wasn’t until his mid 40’s that Nigel decided that corporate life wasn’t for him anymore and he decided to dedicate his future to coaching and developing people. His successes since making that decision have been spectacular. He has many leadership articles in print, won local and international awards, coached at all levels in a range of organizations from small and medium sized enterprises to fortune 500 companies, working with front line team leaders, right through to CEO’s. He is now an internationally recognized facilitator, coach, author and master motivator.

While juggling a busy family life, running the people and organizational development business he manages with his wife, and writing; he also competes at a high level in endurance sporting events such as ultra marathons and multisport races involving running, cycling and kayaking. He is also a photographer, glider pilot, musician and compulsive traveller!
His purpose is clear – to lead in all areas of his life, to live life to the full, and to assist and coach others in unlocking their true potential.

Running in the 56 mile Comrades race in South Africa June 2008

Finishing in 11th place in the 2007 Coast2Coast multisport race

What others say about Nigel J Wall

“With Nigel’s unique coaching approach you quickly realize that you already know, and have, what it takes to succeed. While his style is vibrant and confident; it’s not about him, his focus is always directed at you, about you and what you can do.”
Mervyn Eyre, Chief Executive Officer, Fujitsu Caribbean

“Nigel Wall is one of those rare individuals who people look at with admiration and perhaps even a bit of awe... Congratulations, Nigel, on writing a fine book that will inspire thousands of leaders throughout the world”
Paul J. Meyer - Founder of Success Motivation International, Inc., and New York Times best-selling author