Free Motivational eBooks Six self-help classics in PDF, picked by a three-time Olympian.

As a Man Thinketh PDF by James Allen

Author James AllenPublished 1903Reading time About 1 hourFormat PDF

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is one of the classics of motivational and self-help literature. This inspirational essay was first published in 1903, and its title comes from a verse in the Bible: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” In other words, all that a person achieves, and all that they fail to achieve, is the direct result of their own thoughts.

Allen drew on many areas of philosophy and faith to write this groundbreaking work. It is a short, fast and highly motivating read, and its poetic style makes it sing. As a Man Thinketh is old-school “positive thought” meditation in written form, meant to be read again and again for inspiration.

Acres of Diamonds PDF by Russell Conwell

Author Russell ConwellPublished 1890Reading time About 1 hourFormat PDF

“Dig in your own back yard!”

Acres of Diamonds began as a speech that Russell Conwell delivered more than 6,000 times around the world. It was first published in 1890 by the John Y. Huber Company of Philadelphia and is now one of the most famous personal development books of all time.

Conwell is best remembered as the founder and first president of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for this inspirational lecture. He was born in South Worthington, Massachusetts, and is buried in the Founder's Garden at Temple University.

The central idea of the book is that you do not need to look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement or fortune: the resources to achieve all good things are present in your own community. Conwell opens with the story of a man who wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in a fruitless search for them, while the new owner of his home discovered a rich diamond mine right there on the land. He then develops the theme through examples of success, genius and service from ordinary Americans of his time.

Unleashing the Ideavirus PDF by Seth Godin

Author Seth GodinPublished 2000Reading time About 3 hoursFormat PDF

Unleashing the Ideavirus explains how human interaction, the internet and marketing have fused into something new: an idea that can spread like wildfire and turn a small business or product into all the rage, or a has-been, overnight.

Seth Godin's ideas can be hard to swallow for experienced business owners, especially those who have been successful for years. It is easy to believe you have it all figured out because you made it this far. The book is full of examples of companies that use outdated marketing techniques and are losing ground quickly.

If you don't want your business to go the way of the dinosaurs, read it slowly and think about it as you go. You will almost certainly start making changes. You may even feel a little panic setting in, and that is a good thing. We all need some extra motivation sometimes.

Self Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion PDF by Émile Coué

Author Émile CouéPublished 1920Reading time About 1 hourFormat PDF

“Every day, in every respect, I am getting better and better.”

It is our imagination, not our will, that directs our actions. Émile Coué gives us the simplest of principles: the conscious use of our own innate awareness. He shows that autosuggestion really can change our lives for the better.

Coué was not a public speaker. He was a pharmacist, but an unusually charismatic and inspiring one, and his ideas spread mainly through his seminars and by word of mouth. His great discovery came one day when a customer complained that nothing in the pharmacy could relieve his chronic complaint.

Coué sent the man away with a remedy that had no medicinal value, telling him: “Here is something new from Paris that has just arrived. They say it is powerful and I am sure it will help you.” A few days later the patient came back delighted, saying it was the most marvelous medicine he had ever taken and that his complaint was gone.

Coué concluded that the cure came from his offhand remark, not the remedy. That insight led to his breakthrough in understanding the power of suggestion, and to the method set out in this book.

How to Become a Leader PDF by Christian H. Godfrey

Author Christian H. GodfreyReading time About 2 hoursFormat PDF

“Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”John D. Rockefeller

There is no such thing as a natural-born leader. Leadership can be learned. We all have leadership potential, just as we all have some ability to sing or run. Some people are better than others, but each of us has a starting point to build on with training and practice.

You do not need an official title to be an effective leader. Leadership is a mix of skills, and skills can be learned. This free ebook shows you how to develop your leadership qualities and improve the ones you already have.

By becoming a leader you raise both your own game and the game of the people around you. You help others overcome their limitations and improve on what they already do, which makes leadership one of the most valuable skills for success.

The Science of Getting Rich PDF by Wallace D. Wattles

Author Wallace D. WattlesPublished 1910Reading time About 2 hoursFormat PDF

Published in 1910, The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles was one of the first self-help books, and it broke new ground by treating the creation of wealth as a science. It went on to inspire a whole genre of “how to” books that generations of readers have found practical and useful.

Its original title was The Science of Getting Rich, or Financial Success Through Creative Thought. In clear, concise language, Wattles sets out a step-by-step approach to wealth, built on the idea that every person has the power to conceive, believe and achieve financial success through thought, willpower and visualization.

He rejects competitive and unethical paths and shows that great success can be reached through cooperation. Part of the book's lasting appeal is its idea of personal control: taking charge of your life and mastering negative influences.