Wise Then. Wise Now: Jim Rohn's Timeless Insights.

In a world overflowing with information, it's easy to feel like there's nothing truly new to discover. But every so often, the right message—delivered in the right way—can spark a powerful shift in perspective. That's the magic of great teachers.

My own journey in personal development began through the teachings of Tony Robbins, whose work continues to shape how I coach and grow. Tony often credits much of his foundation to Jim Rohn, a legendary figure in the self-improvement world. Intrigued, I began exploring Jim's work myself, and what I found was simple, timeless wisdom that cuts through the noise.

Though Jim Rohn is no longer with us, his words live on, still guiding and inspiring countless people around the world. In this post, I'm sharing five quotes from Jim that deeply impacted me—each one a small but powerful reminder of how we can live, grow, and lead with greater intention.

"Don't manage your time. Protect it."  

When clients tell me they're stressed, overwhelmed, or constantly playing catch-up, it often comes down to one simple truth: they're not protecting their time. The intention is there—they even block off time in their calendars—but when it comes to execution, that time quietly disappears. More often than not, they give it away to anyone who asks.

If you want to create days you don't need a break from, it starts with respecting your own time. Protecting it might mean asking for the real deadline rather than assuming everything is urgent, clarifying expectations, or negotiating a time that works for both parties. Boundaries are not barriers—they're agreements that honour everyone's time, including your own.

Ask yourself: Are you saying yes too quickly? Are you trying to please others at the cost of your own priorities? Are you trying too hard to protect your team at the cost of your time?

One small shift that can make a big difference—when you block out time in your calendar, treat it with the same respect you would give to anyone else's request. Also, bringing clarity to what that time is for. Don't just leave a vague yellow block with no description. Label it: "Work on client presentation" or "Study time." Then honour that space by staying focused on the task at hand.

Of course, this isn't always easy. Guilt might show up. You might worry about letting someone down. But this is where self-awareness becomes powerful. When you sit down for that blocked time, notice what's coming up for you. What are you telling yourself? What are you really afraid of?

That internal dialogue is key. If you find yourself procrastinating or mindlessly scrolling, ask if you're truly giving yourself enough real breaks during the day. If you're putting off the task, is it because you feel unprepared or fear it won't be perfect? Sometimes, we forget that done is better than perfect.

Real change begins with self-observation. When you bring awareness to what's happening beneath the surface, you gain the power to choose a better response. That's how you begin to reclaim your time—and your energy.

"It's not about the hours you put in — it's about what you put into the hours."

We know this to be true: being busy doesn't always mean being productive, and it certainly doesn't guarantee progress. One pattern I've seen across clients—from entrepreneurs to corporate leaders, across genders and roles—is the belief that if something feels easy or doesn't take much time, it somehow doesn't "count."

Let's pause there.

If you've developed a skill to the point where a task that once took you four hours now takes you one, that's not a shortcut—it's growth. It's mastery. Yet many people feel guilty for not spending longer, as if value is measured in time rather than outcome.

The same thinking shows up in our daily structure. You might race through your day, ticking off a dozen low-impact tasks, and still feel like you've achieved nothing. What if, instead of a never-ending to-do list, you created a success list—three high-impact tasks that truly move the needle?

And here's the reframe: you don't even have to finish all three. Making meaningful progress on two of them could be the most productive use of your energy. It's not about volume. It's about momentum.

I often see clients feeling defeated by unfinished lists. But that list often isn't based on strategy; it's just a brain dump. And when we attach our self-worth to how many boxes we tick, we set ourselves up for frustration—and that quiet feeling of never being enough.

Maybe your day didn't go as planned. Maybe you didn't touch your list because an unexpected situation needed your attention. But you had a powerful conversation with your team, or a moment of connection with your kids that shifted something for them. Can you zoom out and still call that a good day?

To own your time is to redefine what success means. Anchor your days in impact, not hours. And most importantly, give yourself permission to stop measuring your worth by your output.

"If you work on your gifts, they will make room for you."

Jim believed that we're all born with unique gifts, but it's our responsibility to refine them. When we do, doors begin to open. Not because of luck, but because preparation meets opportunity.

The way I interpret this is simple: the more energy and intention you pour into your natural talents, the more the world starts to create space for you to use them. For me, that gift was coaching. Five years ago, I chose to step into this space. It wasn't a loud or confident leap—it was a quiet commitment. I invested in training, studied frameworks such as the Enneagram and Strategic Invention, and continually expanded my toolkit. The more I showed up to develop this gift, the more my practice grew—not overnight, but steadily and meaningfully.

It wasn't always easy. There were plenty of moments when the inner voice crept in—Who do you think you are to do this? But I kept going. I kept showing up for the version of myself I was becoming. I made space for my gift, and in turn, it started making space for me.

Now I want to turn the mirror to you.

What's your gift? It could be the ability to see systems and spot inefficiencies, or you could bring creativity and beauty into spaces through design. Maybe you write, and deep down, you know there's a book waiting to be written. Or you code, and your brain sees solutions that others miss.

Whatever it is, are you making space for it? Or is it still sitting on the "one day" shelf?

Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come not from doing more, but from making room for what matters most. Your gift doesn't need a grand entrance. It just needs your consistent attention.

Ask yourself: What am I not making space for that, if I did, could open doors I never imagined?

Your gift is waiting. Will you meet it?

"Set goals not just for what you'll achieve, but for who you'll become in the process."

This quote beautifully captures one of Jim Rohn’s core teachings: success isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the transformation that happens along the way. He believed that the real value of setting goals lies in the growth, the habits, and the character you develop as you work toward them.

Take the example of aspiring to become a CEO one day. Yes, there’s the title, the influence, and the responsibility of leading a company—but pause and ask yourself: What kind of leader do I want to be when I get there? Will people follow you out of respect or obligation? What kind of presence, values, and mindset do you need to cultivate now, so that when you arrive in that role, you lead with clarity and integrity?

One of my clients is currently pursuing her PHD—a goal she’s held for years. And while it’s easy to focus solely on getting through assignments and finishing the research paper, I encouraged her to step back and reflect on the deeper opportunity: Who is she becoming in this process?

She’s learning to navigate uncertainty, manage self-doubt, and build resilience. Yes, she’s gaining knowledge, but more importantly, she’s growing into the kind of leader who can bring that wisdom into every area of her life. When we shift our perspective from “getting through it” to “growing through it,” the journey becomes richer—and so much more meaningful.

For me, one of the goals on my bucket list is to create an Audible-Exclusive book. It’s not about the platform or the badge of honour—it’s about the deeper question: What message do I have that’s worthy of that space? What kind of coach do I need to become to offer something of true value, something that serves others deeply? It’s not an ego-driven goal. It’s a contribution-driven one—and that intention pushes me to keep showing up, learning, and evolving.

So, what’s your goal?

Maybe it’s not a corporate title or a big project. Maybe it’s something more personal—like designing an award-winning garden. Beautiful. But to do that, maybe you need to become someone who gives yourself permission to slow down. Someone who chooses self-kindness over perfectionism. Sometimes, the most meaningful goals are passion-driven, not power-driven.

At the heart of it, your goals are not just about what you’ll get. They’re about who you’ll become. And that’s where the real growth lives.

"The best gift you can give others isn't self-sacrifice — it's self-development."

This is one of my favourite pieces of wisdom from Jim Rohn, because it gently but powerfully reframes a belief so many of us hold: If I take time for myself, I’ll fall behind. If I prioritise myself, I’ll be letting others down.

I hear these phrases often—especially from high-achieving, caring individuals. But what they lead to isn’t just frustration... it’s stagnation. You end up pouring from an empty cup, thinking it's noble. But Jim Rohn reminds us that our greatest contribution doesn’t come from running ourselves into the ground. It comes from showing up as our most energised, centred, and developed selves.

What Jim meant by this wasn’t self-indulgence—it was responsibility. When you invest in your growth, your clarity, and your energy, you elevate everyone around you. Your presence becomes calmer, more intentional, and far more impactful.

Let’s be honest: when you deny yourself even the smallest practices of self-connection—whether it's journaling, movement, meditation, or something creative like dancing or scrapbooking—you're not being selfless. You're running on fumes. And when that happens, it’s harder to be patient, kind, or present for anyone, let alone yourself.

Self-development isn’t always about taking big courses or reading ten books a month. Sometimes, it’s simply creating space in the morning for ten minutes of stillness. Those ten minutes might mean the difference between reacting and responding, between snapping and supporting.

It’s not about becoming superhuman. It’s about becoming a better human being, instead of a constantly exhausted human doing.

If you’ve followed my work, you know I advocate starting small—fifteen minutes a day. And if that feels impossible, start with ten. Not an hour. Just a pocket of time that’s yours. The return on that investment? You’ll reconnect with parts of yourself you didn’t even realise were running on autopilot.

So here’s a gentle reminder: stop sacrificing your joy, health, and mental clarity for the sake of perceived guilt. The world won’t fall apart if you don’t check your emails the moment you wake up. But you might fall apart if you don’t check in with yourself.

The people around you don’t need a burned-out version of you. They need you—grounded, inspired, and fully present. And that starts with giving yourself permission to grow.

Final thoughts.

Jim Rohn once said, “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.”

That’s the heart of his wisdom—simple, not always easy, but deeply transformative when lived consistently. It’s not about giant leaps or radical reinventions. It’s about daily decisions. Choosing to honour your time. Choosing to invest in your growth. Choosing to set goals that stretch not only your ambition, but your character.

His teachings remind us that we don’t need to chase someone else’s version of success. We need to define our own—and become the person who can carry it with grace.

So, as you close this post, I invite you to pause.

What resonated with you? What small shift are you ready to make? Maybe it’s protecting your mornings. Maybe it’s revisiting a skill you’ve let go dormant. Maybe it’s simply being kinder to yourself as you grow.

Whatever it is, start today.

Because you don’t need more time. You need more intention with the time you already have. You don’t need to become someone else. You need to come home to the person you already are, beneath the noise.

Let Jim’s timeless wisdom be your reminder: your greatest impact will never come from doing more. It will come from becoming more.

And that journey—quiet, consistent, and deeply personal—is the one worth showing up for, every single day.

Here's to timeless wisdom,

Warm wishes,

Lori