Brian Tracy biography, quotes and books

Article by: Ben Janse

Last update: March 19, 2024

Brian Tracy (born January 5, 1944) is a Canadian-American author, motivational speaker, and personal development expert. Brian Tracy is best known for his personal and professional development publications, on which he has written numerous bestsellers. He also developed training programs and gave seminars to help organizations and people achieve their goals.

The biography of Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in Canada. Throughout his childhood, the Tracy family faced financial challenges, which instilled in him a strong work ethic and desire for personal success.

As a child, Brian developed a keen interest in reading and self-improvement. He read book after book on various topics related to psychology, business and personal success.

Brian grew up in the second half of the 20th century and was confronted with significant technological and social changes. He lived through the introduction of television, the start of the Space Age and the cultural shifts of the 1960s. These years profoundly influenced the rest of his life through the world view he developed.

During his childhood, his interest in business and entrepreneurship was strengthened. He held several jobs, including selling newspapers and delivering milk. During these years he developed his communication and persuasion skills. These experiences laid the foundation for his later success in sales and business.

Tracy attended the University of Alberta in Canada, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce. After graduating, he started working in sales and worked in various industries, gaining valuable experience and refining his sales techniques.

World travel

At the age of twenty, Brian had had enough of the simple life and decided to travel. He left Canada in his car and traveled through North America before going to England by ship.

From there he cycled through France and Spain to Gibraltar. His journey lasted eight years and took him through the Sahara desert, where he and his friends had a near-death experience in the harsh landscape.

After surviving many dangers and adventures, his life began to take shape and he teamed up with the famous Dr. Albert Schweitzer in South Africa. He also trained and earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

After living in Johannesburg for two years, he left again and traveled on. He worked briefly in London and then traveled through various parts of Europe and the Middle East. He eventually ended up in India and traveled on to Malaysia, Singapore, to finally settle in Thailand again for two years.

So far he has traveled and stayed in more than 80 countries around the world.

From sales to motivational speaker and coach

In the late 1970s, Tracy transitioned from a successful career in sales to becoming a motivational speaker and personal development trainer.

He started giving seminars and workshops on topics such as goal setting, time management and sales effectiveness. Tracy’s insights and practical strategies were well received by the public, leading to his meteoric rise as a prominent figure in the field of personal development.

Throughout his career, Tracy has written numerous books, conducted extensive research, and shared his knowledge across a variety of platforms.

His teaching emphasizes the power of mindset, discipline, goal clarity and continuous improvement. Tracy’s work has inspired millions of people worldwide to realize their potential, achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives.

The personal life of Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is married to Barbara Tracy. They married in 1979 and together they raise their four children: Michael Tracy, Christina Tracy Stein, David Tracy, and Catherine Tracy. They live in California, United States.

Net worth of Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy’s net worth is estimated to be $15 million in 2023. Brian Tracy has advised over 1,000 companies and spoken to over 5,000,000 people in over 40 countries worldwide. As a keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year. Before starting his own company, Brian was the Chief Operating Officer of a $265 million development company.

Famous quotes

“Goals allow you to control the direction of change in your favor.”
“Successful people are simply those with successful habits.”
“Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs, and expectations.”
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.”
“The future belongs to the competent. Get good, get better, be the best!”
“You have within you, right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.”
“The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.”
“Your most valuable asset can be your willingness to persist longer than anyone else.”
“You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.”
“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.”
“The more you seek security, the less of it you have. But the more you seek opportunity, the more likely it is that you will achieve the security you desire.”
“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”
“Your life only gets better when you get better.”
“The only real limitation on your abilities is the level of your desires.”
“Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”
“The person we believe ourselves to be will always act in a manner consistent with our self-image.”
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
“Your words control your life, your progress, your results, even your mental and physical health.”
“You become what you think about most of the time.”
“You can’t hit a target you cannot see, and you cannot see a target you do not have.”
“The more you learn, the more you earn.”
“Success is 80% psychology and 20% mechanics.”
“Your life is controlled by what you focus on.”
“Your greatest resource is your time.”
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
“Persistence is the key to success.”
“Success is not an accident, it’s a choice.”
“Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.”
“Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.”
“If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person.”
“The more you give, the more you get.”
“The person who doesn’t make mistakes is unlikely to make anything.”
“The starting point of all achievement is desire.”
“Your self-esteem is the reputation you have with yourself.”
“Success is doing what you love and being able to serve others in the process.”
“Success is not just about making money. It’s about making a difference.”
“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of your own self-improvement.”
“The more you seek security, the less secure you become.”
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
“Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.”
“Your time is precious. Don’t waste it on things that don’t contribute to your growth.”
“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.”
“You can only grow if you are willing to feel uncomfortable and step out of your comfort zone.”
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
“Leadership is the ability to get extraordinary achievement from ordinary people.”
“Success is not about luck; it’s about doing the right things consistently.”
“The only limits in your life are the ones you set yourself.”
“Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from taking action.”
“Success is not just about reaching your goals, but enjoying the journey along the way.”
“Your words have power. Use them wisely and positively.”
“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
“Focus on the solution, not the problem.”

Books and Publications by Brian Tracy et al.

2023. The Art of Productivity: How to Achieve More, Focus Better, and Master Your Time. Entrepreneur Press.
2022. The Science of Motivation: Strategies and Techniques for Inspiring Peak Performance. Simple Truths.
2022. Power Negotiating: How to Get What You Want, When You Want, Every Time. Wiley.
2021. The Science of Money: How to Increase Your Income and Become Wealthy. Simple Truths.
2021. Master Your Focus: A Practical Guide to Stop Chasing the Next Thing and Focus on What Matters Until It’s Done. Wiley.
2020. Unlimited Sales Success: 12 Simple Steps for Selling More Than You Ever Thought Possible. Simple Truths.
2020. Kiss That Frog!: 12 Great Ways to Turn Negatives into Positives in Your Life and Work. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2019. Eat That Frog! for Students: 22 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Excel in School. Mango.
2019. Cracking the Sales Management Code: The Secrets to Measuring and Managing Sales Performance. Career Press.
2018. Get Smart!: How to Think and Act Like the Most Successful and Highest-Paid People in Every Field. Simple Truths.
2018. Find Your Balance Point: Clarify Your Priorities, Simplify Your Life, and Achieve More. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2017. Master Your Time, Master Your Life: The Breakthrough System to Get More Results, Faster, in Every Area of Your Life. Entrepreneur Press.
2016. The Way to Wealth: Achieve Financial Success and the Life of Your Dreams. Simple Truths.
2015. Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life: How to Unlock Your Full Potential for Success and Achievement. TarcherPerigee.
2014. The Miracle of Self-Discipline: The “No-Excuses” Way to Getting Things Done. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2013. Full Engagement!: Inspire, Motivate, and Bring Out the Best in Your People. AMACOM.
2012. The Power of Self-Confidence: Become Unstoppable, Irresistible, and Unafraid in Every Area of Your Life. Wiley.
2011. How the Best Leaders Lead: Proven Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Yourself and Others. AMACOM.
2010. No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline. Vanguard Press.
2009. Flight Plan: The Real Secret of Success. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2007. Million Dollar Habits for Network Marketers: 50 Top Network Marketing Leaders Reveal the Most Powerful, Tested, and Proven Systems to Become a Network Marketing Superstar. Wiley.
2006. The Psychology of Selling: Increase Your Sales Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible. Thomas Nelson.
2004. The Art of Closing the Sale: The Key to Making More Money Faster in the World of Professional Selling. Thomas Nelson.
2003. Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want—Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
2003. Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals. AMACOM.
2001. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
1997. Time Power: A Proven System for Getting More Done in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible. AMACOM.
1997. The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
1993. Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed. Simon & Schuster.
1990. Million Dollar Habits: Proven Power Practices to Double and Triple Your Income. Entrepreneur Press.

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Janse, B. (2023). Brian Tracy. Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/toolsheroes/brian-tracy/

Original publication date: 06/14/2023 | Last update: 03/19/2024

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Article by:

Ben Janse

Ben Janse is a young professional working at ToolsHero as Content Manager. He is also an International Business student at Rotterdam Business School where he focusses on analyzing and developing management models. Thanks to his theoretical and practical knowledge, he knows how to distinguish main- and side issues and to make the essence of each article clearly visible.