22 March 2006

IF IT�S NOT TRUE IT SHOULD BE!

The motivational fraternity, including Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar are suckers for a feel-good story. When we hear a good one we absorb it as gospel and share it with our audiences.

Poor Scottish Farmer saves Lord�s Son

I love the story about Alexander Fleming�s dad saving a young Winston Churchill from drowning. This resulted in Lord Randolph Churchill sending Alexander to St. Mary�s Hospital Medical School in London. Alexander goes on to discover penicillin which saves Winston Churchill. Man, it makes a great tale of one good turn deserves another and there�s a reason for everything.

Famous Atheist Defends God

My heart warmed, when, none other than Albert Einstein defended God in a battle of wits with a university professor. I always thought he was an atheist. But, hey, don�t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Set Specific Goals To Get 97% Of The Wealth

My favourite story, which is the cornerstone of my goal-setting workshops, is the study of the Class of 1953. In 1953, researchers surveyed Yale�s graduating seniors to determine how many of them had specific, written goals for their future. The answer: 3%. Twenty years later, researchers polled the surviving members of the Class of 1953 and found that the 3% with goals had accumulated more personal financial wealth than the other 97% of the class combined!

These great stories � aimed to inspire and motivate people to action � are all lies!

Myth #1

The Class of 1953 story, according to Lawrence Tabak (who didn�t graduate from Yale and never set any goals for the future) and the Fast Company Consultant Debunking Unit, this powerful and compelling story is untrue.

Powerful and well-respected motivators like Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar also bought into this story � as have motivational speakers in South Africa and the rest of the world, I�d suspect.

Click on this link to request the full Fast Company article Please email me the Class of �53 story

Myth #2

According to myth-busting website, www.snopes.com the Winston Churchill and Alexander Fleming story is a myth. Get the full story here.

Myth #3

Albert Einstein could never have defended God because he was an atheist. In his own words "It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly." Read the full story here.

What Now?

I loved Brian Tracy�s answer to questions about the source of �The Class of 53� � �Heard the story originally from Zig Ziglar. If it�s not true it should be.�

Here�s the rub, even if a story�s not true but inspires people to change their lives for the good and move on to greatness, is this such a great sin? Your thoughts on this question would be welcomed and if you have any other stories that are suspect you can voice them on my motivational forum by clicking here.

Let�s take the red pill and have a Matrix moment � What if the Fast Company article is a lie?

 Copyright 2006 by Jacques de Villiers 

This article may be copied or republished with the following credit:

"By Jacques de Villiers, Inspirational Speaker, Johannesburg, South Africa.
+27 (0) 82 906 3693   www.jacquesdevilliers.com "

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