Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Cathcart.
Hi Jim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am an author and a professional speaker. In 1972, as a newly married 26-year-old with no college degree, no money in the bank and a new baby at home, I was working as a $525 a month clerk at the Little Rock (Arkansas) housing authority. My job was assisting a man named Bob Moore and Bob wasn’t busy. I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living but one day I heard Earl Nightingale, the “dean of personal motivation” (a Tony Robbins kind of guy), on the radio. He said, “If you spend an extra hour each day studying your chosen field, you will become an expert in that field in five years or less.” That was the first time it ever occurred to me that I could become a substantial person and make a difference in the world! My entire worldview was reoriented by that simple statement.
A few weeks later, I decided to become an expert on Personal Development (aka “Applied Behavioral Science” or practical psychology.”) I became fanatical about studying human behavior and self-improvement. I read all the classic works like Think and Grow Rich, The Power of Positive Thinking, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Psycho-Cybernetics, The Greatest Salesman in the World, See You At The Top, and many more.
My new knowledge showed in my work and I got promoted to Staff Assistant to the Board of Directors, then I was elected President of the Employees Association (I didn’t even realize that we had an association!). I joined the Jaycees (US Junior Chamber of Commerce) and became extremely involved, 400 meetings in two years after work and on weekends. I volunteered to lead their leadership training meetings and quickly became popular as a speaker and discussion leader. From that point onward, my life was transformed. I became a professional speaker full-time in 1977.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
At first, I was very young-looking and had difficulty being taken seriously as a business trainer. I formed some partnerships that didn’t work out. I was betrayed by a partner and lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. One of my employees was lying about me to others because I caught him in a lie and he knew he’d have to leave. I tried numerous new ventures that didn’t directly pay off but I pivoted and gained some big successes.
Later in my life, I had two health challenges that could have devastated my career. I wasted lots of money on projects that didn’t work out, but my successes FAR outweigh any of these challenges. I’ve been hugely blessed with success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My mission in life is to live abundantly and to help others do the same. “Helping People Succeed” is my corporate motto. I’ve delivered over 3,300 paid speeches and seminars around the world and written 21 books plus much more so I’m reaching hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions. I’m a specialist in teaching success skills for individuals and organizations. My books The Acorn Principle (know yourself to grow yourself) and Relationship Selling (treating connections as assets) are my “brand” to most people. They’ve both been translated into multiple languages worldwide.
I’m a professor for the Executive MBA program at California Lutheran University’s School of Management and I’ve taught at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business. People have said I’m what “Fonzie” (from Happy Days TV show) would have been if he’d gone to business school. 🙂
I’m not data-driven, I’m genuine, I tell people the truth. I don’t believe in great facades, I believe in becoming a great person. I have received almost every award and honor in Professional Speaking in the world. Truly. I’m past president of the National Speakers Association and my TEDx video is in the Top 1% worldwide with over 2.4 million views.
My next book, coming out in late 2021 is Intelligent Curiosity.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My commitment to truth. And my willingness to persist until I succeed.
Pricing:
- $15,000 Keynote speech fee
- $2,997 Initial virtual consulting fee
- $5,000 Monthly “Virtual Vice President” fee, for being your advisor on call
Contact Info:
- Email: info@cathcart.com
- Website: https://cathcart.com
- Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/jim.cathcart
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/jimcathcart/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jimcathcart
