His Chicken Soup for the Soul series is not just a stack of books but a brand name. From a mother to a teenage daughter to a grandmother to a weight-watcher to a cat and dog, there is one for anyone and everyone. Not only have these been translated into several languages, but countries have created their own series, including Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul, Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul.
There's a reason that list is never-ending: Jack Canfield — the co-author of the series, motivational speaker and success coach — is, simply, a man who loves to tell stories.
"When I was a high-school teacher I learned that stories are the most powerful way to teach anything. I was teaching in an all-black high school in the ghetto in Chicago and my students were not very motivated," he explains. "Through the use of stories I was finally able to engage, motivate and inspire them. Later I used those same stories to teach and inspire teachers. When I became a public speaker I kept on telling inspiring stories to make my teaching points. Eventually in 1991, it occurred to me to put a collection of some of my best stories in a book. That is how the first Chicken Soup book came into being.
"At the end of that book we asked people to send in a good story if they had one with the idea of creating a second book. Well, we started receiving 50 stories a day, and the series was born. Now there are more than 200 Chicken Soup books in more than 40 languages around the world. It is quite a phenomenon with more than 125 million books in print".
Canfield, who will be in Dubai on April 9, describes himself as an "avid reader" and "incredibly happy" family man. He has been married to his wife Inga, his personal trainer and yoga instructor, for 11 years and is proud of his children Oran David Canfield, a drummer in a band, artist and bicycle messenger; Kyle Dania Canfield, a hip hop singer and songwriter; Christopher Noble Canfield, who likes art, singing and acting; Travis Mahoney who loves computer games, making things and is very science-oriented, and Riley Jane Mahoney, who likes dolls and art and singing. He loves to play the guitar, Scrabble, music, dance, cook, entertain guests, swim at the beach, work out in the gym, take at least four week-long vacations a year, meditate, do yoga and go for hikes in the mountains.
He attributes his success to the late W. Clement Stone, American businessman, philanthropist and author of the self-helpbook New Thought.
"I think the two years I worked with W. Clement Stone were the most formative. The second most important was the years I spent as a psychotherapist because I learnt all the ways people have of stopping themselves from achieving their goals. I am now clear that no matter what our circumstances we always have the power to make better choices for ourselves — choices that lead us to the achievement of what we really want in life.
What do you think is the reason for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series' popularity?
I think the reason for its popularity is that the Chicken Soup for the Soul books teach by example. When you read them, you say to yourself several things: "If they can do it, then I can do it; Oh, that's how to do that; Wow, I am really inspired by that story. I am going to try that; and so on." The stories stand alone.
You take from them whatever you want. No one is shoving something down your throat. No one is telling you how you "should" be or how you "should" act.
What feedback have you received for the books? How have people said it's changed their lives?
I will give you country examples to answer this question. India has been a country that has sold millions of Chicken Soup books and now created its own series of Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul books. I had not foreseen that there would be books such as that or Chicken Soup for the Singapore Soul and Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul. However, the country that has surprised me the most is China. They have printed and distributed more than 300 million Chicken Soup books. Many of them are being used in the Chinese schools to teach English to the Chinese students. They print the stories in English on one page and in Chinese on the facing page. They have found that the stories are so emotionally engaging that the students want to read them. I think the Chinese are also inspired by the stories of people overcoming obstacles and creating success in their lives since so many are now becoming entrepreneurs in China after years of living in a more communist country. With the books now having been translated into more than 40 languages, it seems the themes covered are universal. When you think that people in Brazil, Russia, France, India, China, South Africa, Australia and Thailand all find inspiration, motivation, hope and guidance in the books, it is very gratifying.
And always with the flowers, come the brickbats. What kind of criticism have you faced for it? Do people find them "over the top" kind of stories?
On the contrary, people are pleasantly surprised because they're all true.
You are a success coach but does listening to someone speak of change really make them change? How can one look at sustaining this change?
Being a professional speaker helps. The more you teach something, the more you believe in it. I get to reinforce my beliefs daily as I teach.
But by facing daily difficulties with optimism and a solution-oriented focus one can really make and sustain change. What do we want to happen here and how can we go about creating that? There is no point in being a pessimist. It stops action and leads to inaction, blaming and complaining, none of which move you closer to your desired outcomes.
You've said earlier learning doesn't necessarily happen in a classroom. How do you suggest a parent can inculcate a ‘sense of learning' in a child?
By understanding that every person and every child is unique. We all have our own definition of success — that which we think will make us happy and fulfilled. For one person it is to make a difference in the world; for another it is to solve a major challenge. Some are born to be artists and musicians; others economists and financial planners. The trick is to follow your joy. That is what we need to tell our children. Unfortunately, many people are seeking the symbols of success (money, cars, fancy homes, fashionable clothes, prestigious positions and awards,) rather than the experience of success (true joy, contentment and fulfillment.)
When we were little children, we knew what we wanted, what brought us joy. As we grew older, many of us were shamed, punished or talked out of what we loved to do. We lost touch with our desires. We began to settle for less than what we wanted, to gain the approval and acceptance of others — our parents, friends and teachers. We began to seek something else to fill the void. We sought money, power, prestige, and celebrity.
Unfortunately, these can never fill the void, so people keep craving more and more and more. This is what creates the unethical and illegal behaviours that lead to scandals.
We need to allow our children to continue to follow their joy and stay in touch with their true purpose and desires.
Can you give us some tips on how a person can alleviate pressure at work, romantic relationship, dealing with in-laws/family and clashes in friendship?
First, remember that you have survived everything that has ever happened to you in your life. No matter how bad it was, you are still here.
Second, remember that you are always going to have your commitment to your dreams tested. If success were easy, everyone would be a millionaire. It takes work, endurance and a continual commitment to your version of your ideal life. You have to always make a choice.
Are you going to be more committed to your dreams and your vision or to your fears, doubts and your perception of present reality?
The other thing I recommend is reading biographies and autobiographies of famous and successful people. They will help you see that everyone, no matter how successful, has had to climb out of defeat, depression and despair at some point in their life. When we see that obstacles and setbacks are just part of the way things are, we realise that we too can climb over and around them. It just takes getting up one more time than we fall. That is, after all, how we all learnt to walk!
Chicken Soup for Jack Canfield's soul
I believe life is a school in which we get to learn lessons, develop ourselves, overcome limiting beliefs and self-destructive behaviours, and develop qualities such as courage, perseverance, patience, compassion and love. I also believe life is about joy — finding your passions and pursuing the things that bring you joy. I believe the universe is controlled by laws — both physical and metaphysical — that can be learnt and cooperated with to create more joyful, productive and meaningful lives. What motivates me is learning more about life and how to live it more fully so as to contribute more to helping others do the same. I love learning and teaching and empowering others through seminars, books, movies, television and the internet.
How meditation heals
"There are mountains of research on the effectiveness of positive visualisation, meditation, prayer and positive thinking on healing illness, accelerating the mending of broken bones, and preventing illness in the first place," Jack Canfield says. "I once used a visualisation process to heal a cut on the bottom of my foot without stitches in two days. A doctor who witnessed the cut said that normally it would have required six stitches".
Jack Canfield's books (authored and co-authored)
- Jack Canfield's mantra for success
- Follow your heart
- Know what you want
- Take action everyday toward your goals
- Respond to feedback
- Be grateful for all you have
