The Untold Story of Earl Nightingale and the Birth of Motivation

What this episode is about

The narrative explores the life and impact of Earl Nightingale, a pivotal figure in the motivation industry, detailing the author's personal journey in collecting memorabilia related to Nightingale and other influential figures like Napoleon Hill. Through a personal meeting with Nightingale’s wife, Diana, the author uncovers intimate stories and insights about Earl's career beginnings, illustrating how a desire for leisure led to his remarkable contribution to motivational speaking and personal development.

Key takeaways

• Earl Nightingale's record sold a million copies—proof that fishing can inspire viral marketing.
• Who knew a pot of coffee and a fishing trip could spark a personal growth revolution?
• Diana reveals: Sometimes big dreams start with small boats—just ask Earl Nightingale.
• "The Strangest Secret"—no ads, just word of mouth, yet it sold like a fish story!
• Nightingale Conant rose as a global powerhouse from a mailed record—businesses, take note!

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: record, Benny (grandson of Benjamin Franklin), Colombia Records, Dick Hutter
2. 3:00 – 6:00: record, Blue Train, computers, Deepo Chopra
3. 6:00 – 9:00: cassette program player, cassette programs, power wheel, Punagorta, Florida
4. 9:00 – 12:00: asking for the sale, Benny (grandson of Benjamin Franklin), Carmel, California
5. 12:00 – 15:00: computers, NAB radio hall of fame, National Association of Broadcasters, plaque
6. 15:00 – 17:10: Caesar Augustus

Notable quotes from "The Untold Story of Earl Nightingale and the Birth of Motivation"

• We're building an event center museum and I've been collecting things from all the people that I look up to, all the people who are my heroes. Napoleon Hill and then Elsie Lincoln Beddy with the.

  about event center museum · at 0:00

• It, was, much, simpler, than, that., And, Earl was in radio and television and he also bought a small Franklin Life Insurance Agency. And basically he just needed to go fishing. He did not have a sailboat.

  about Benny (grandson of Benjamin Franklin) · at 0:52

• Worked for Colombia Records and he called Dick and he said can you press a record for me, one record. And Dick said of course. So he went over and they pressed one record. And…

  about record · at 1:54

• It was not played on the radio. This was strictly by word of mouth in paying it for one person after another. And he sold a million copies. Just word of mouth. I mean that's the simple story and he didn't he didn't write it for.

  about word of mouth · at 2:50

• Things that I'm doing. And he said I'm busy fulfilling all these record obligations. And was Lloyd Con. And Lloyd said, I think I can help you. He said, How long do you think…

  about Lloyd Con · at 3:47

• Little introduction of people that I think otherwise probably you know we didn't have computers you didn't have websites and unless you were out there on your own basically you…

  about computers · at 4:33

• Absolutely love trains. And we took the blue train from Johannesburg to Cape Town and we were in our little compartment and he was in the bathroom and I was sitting on the bunk looking out the window and there was this little.

  about Blue Train · at 5:45

• Was in real estate and people were just beginning to come out with little cassette programs that they wanted to call personal development. And most of them were, we didn't use…

  about cassette programs · at 6:38

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Benny (grandson of Benjamin Franklin) — Person · 2 mentions · first at 0:56
• Elsie Lincoln Beddy — Person · 1 mention · first at 0:06
  The people that I look up to, all the people who are my heroes. Napoleon Hill and then Elsie Lincoln Beddy with the stuff I was able to purchase from her granddaughter.…
• Dick Hutter — Person · 1 mention · first at 1:52
  Sat down and he wrote an essay and by nine o'clock he had finished the essay but he had a friend Dick Hutter that worked for Colombia Records and he called Dick and he said can…
• Lloyd Con — Person · 1 mention · first at 3:51
• Jim Ran — Person · 1 mention · first at 4:30
  It would be a good idea to bring in some other speakers like Wayne Dyer and Jim Ran. And every month he would do a little introduction of people that I think otherwise probably…
• Deepo Chopra — Person · 1 mention · first at 5:02
  Started and you know we'd get phone calls from people that would say what's a Deepo Chopra you know and so anyway but he was on the radio not just in the United States but in…
• Caesar Augustus — Person · 1 mention · first at 16:48
  Napoleon. And Earl said he fought back the laughter and wanted to say, I'm Caesar Augustus. but no, they they did not hang out. But it was a small community back then and anybody that was in business or, of.
• Angelina Diana — Person · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

• event center museum — Company · 1 mention · first at 0:00
• Franklin Life Insurance Agency — Company · 1 mention · first at 0:56
  It, was, much, simpler, than, that., And, Earl was in radio and television and he also bought a small Franklin Life Insurance Agency. And basically he just needed to go fishing. He did not have a sailboat.
• Colombia Records — Company · 1 mention · first at 1:54
  Nine o'clock he had finished the essay but he had a friend Dick Hutter that worked for Colombia Records and he called Dick and he said can you press a record for me, one…
• nightale conac corporation — Company · 1 mention · first at 4:07
  Said I will help you. And at the end of the year the sales had increased and they formed the nightale conac corporation which became the most the biggest personal development…
• Blue Train — Company · 1 mention · first at 5:47
• National Association of Broadcasters — Company · 1 mention · first at 13:46
  The, National, Association, of, Broadcasters inducts Earl Nightingale into the NAB radio hall of fame.
• NAB radio hall of fame — Company · 1 mention · first at 13:48
  The, National, Association, of, Broadcasters inducts Earl Nightingale into the NAB radio hall of fame.
• Nightingale-Conant — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

• record — Product · 5 mentions · first at 1:59
• computers — Product · 2 mentions · first at 4:38
• cassette programs — Product · 1 mention · first at 6:43
• cassette program player — Product · 1 mention · first at 7:56
  Thought, I'm going to get this over with. and I went into the bedroom, put on my little cassette program player.
• zip tied — Product · 1 mention · first at 12:40
• plaque — Product · 1 mention · first at 13:40
  Up the space. So okay, it, looks, in, the, top, of, this there is a plaque. Let me pull this up real quick. Okay.
• The Strangest Secret — Product · 1 mention · first at 14:08
  So, cool., So, that, with, the, the, strangest with the strangest secret record were his two his, number, one, achievements.

Concepts & topics

• word of mouth — Concept · 1 mention · first at 2:52
• mail order business — Concept · 1 mention · first at 3:38
  I know who you are. I heard you speak at an event and he says, I'm in the mail order business. And Earl said Oh. He said How's it going? He says Well, things are pretty slow right now. And Earl said, Well, he says, I've got all these.
• power wheel — Concept · 1 mention · first at 8:58
  That's too early. I've got to get up really extra early. And they had me on what they called a power wheel. And back then, we were still transitioning from it being a…
• asking for the sale — Concept · 1 mention · first at 10:38
  And he said, No, it's called asking for the sale. And I thought, What a weirdo. But we were married a few months later.
• radio — Concept · 1 mention

Places & events

• Lake Michigan — Place · 1 mention · first at 1:10
  He just had a little power boat that he and some other guys had and they would go up to Lake Michigan and go fishing.
• The Bahamas — Place · 1 mention · first at 5:16
  Not just in the United States but in 23 countries overseas he was in Africa Australia, the Bahamas. I mean everywhere. 23 countries all over the world. Ran for 40 years. And no…
• Johannesburg — Place · 1 mention · first at 5:47
  Absolutely love trains. And we took the blue train from Johannesburg to Cape Town and we were in our little compartment and he was in the bathroom and I was sitting on the bunk looking out the window and there was this little.
• Punagorta, Florida — Place · 1 mention · first at 8:41
  Was in real estate still. And I was working for this brand new place in Punagorta, Florida, not knowing that Earl had it was his brainchild and his inspiration and he had it…
• Carmel, California — Place · 1 mention · first at 11:11
  Because they live on the other side of town. I lived in Florida and Earl lived in Carmel, California. And that time and distance did not keep us from falling in love.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 We're building an event center museum and I've been collecting things from all the people that I look up to, all the people who are my heroes. Napoleon Hill and then Elsie Lincoln Beddy with the stuff I was able to purchase from her granddaughter. Recently, one of my favorite people of all time is Earl Nightingale. Someone who had a huge impact on me, someone who you guys are going to fall in love with. Took me a while to track down like like who has this stuff and all sorts of stuff. And eventually I I ran into and met his wife Diana. She's going to talk about this but it was really cool. My wife and I had a chance to actually fly out and meet her and go to her home. And she told us all the coolest stories about Earl and his life and all sorts of stuff. I had a chance to look at a lot of these things and then a couple weeks later we figured out a way to purchase the stuff from her and and luckily she

0:34 agreed and so it's here today and it's been sitting here in my office for a couple months and today I finally get to go through it with you guys. I'm so excited. It's going to be fun.

0:40 You, know,, I'm, glad, you, brought, me, on right now because I really enjoyed your rendition of how it all began.

0:46 I, would, love, for, you, to, fact, check me and tell me the truth cuz that's my best of my recollection, but you probably know way better than me.

0:52 It, was, much, simpler, than, that., And, Earl was in radio and television and he also bought a small Franklin Life Insurance Agency. And basically he just needed to go fishing. He did not have a sailboat. He just had a little power boat that he and some other guys had and they would go up to Lake Michigan and go fishing. Wanted to go fishing just for two weeks that's all. And the manager said, "If you go fishing for 2 weeks and you're not here to inspire, when you get back we may not have anyone." And he said "Okay, I'll think about it." So, he went home and he wanted to go fishing. That was number one. And he decided that he needed to do something, but he didn't know what. And he said he went to bed and he woke up in the middle of the night and he said he knew exactly what he wanted to do. And he said he put on a pot of coffee and this is really important that I tell you that and he sat down and he wrote an essay and by

1:50 nine o'clock he had finished the essay but he had a friend Dick Hutter that worked for Colombia Records and he called Dick and he said can you press a record for me, one record. And Dick said of course. So he went over and they pressed one record. And he took it into the office and he said I'm going fishing. I'll be back in two weeks. Play the record while I'm gone. When he came back, the manager said, "That record was so powerful. Can you get some more pressed?" And he said, "Sure, I think so." And she said, "Could you get like one for each person?" And he said, "I can." Now, there was no marketing or anything. I mean, there what would be the purpose? I mean, it's just a record right? But everybody took it home and played it for somebody who played it for somebody who played it for somebody who played it for somebody. And all the somebodyies wanted a record of their own. There was no advertising. There was

2:47 no marketing. There was no hoop dehya. It was not played on the radio. This was strictly by word of mouth in paying it for one person after another. And he sold a million copies. Just word of of mouth. I mean that's the simple story and he didn't he didn't write it for profit you know he didn't write it to start any big industry he just wanted to go fishing and I mean and the rest is history basically more people would want it and they would contact him and he would you know send out more records and basically you know 1960 he's coming back from a a speaking engagement and he's on an airplane and He's sitting next to this man who says "I know who you are. I heard you speak at an event and um he says, "I'm in the mail order business." And Earl said "Oh." He said "How's it going?" He says "Well, things are pretty slow right now." And Earl said, "Well," he says, "You know, I've got all these

3:47 things that I'm doing." And he said "I'm busy fulfilling all these record obligations." And was Lloyd Con. And Lloyd said, "I think I can help you." He said, "How long do you think it'll take before you've saturated the market?" And Earl said maybe another year and Lloyd said I will help you. And at the end of the year the sales had increased and they formed the nightale conac corporation which became the most um the biggest personal development company in the world. And from 1960 to 1980 Earl was the only person that offered programming. And then in 1980 he thought it would be a good idea to bring in some some other speakers like Wayne Dyer and Jim Ran. And every month he would do a little introduction of people that I think otherwise probably you know we didn't have computers you didn't have websites and unless you were out there on your own basically you were out there on your own. And uh the company offered

4:49 authors an opportunity to come into the company and they would write programs for them and then they would record them and that's how a lot of the authors got started and you know we we'd get phone calls from people that would say what's a Deepo Chopra you know and uh so anyway but he was on the radio not just in the United States but in 23 countries overseas he was in Africa Australia, the Bahamas. I mean everywhere. 23 countries all over the world. Ran for 40 years. And no matter where we went, somebody recognized his voice. We never had a hot meal when we went out to dinner because somebody would come and want to stand there and

5:31 that, burning, voice., Yeah. The, difference, Yeah., that, it, made, in, in his world. And I think one of the things that really was interesting to me and we got a big kick out of it. We were in South Africa and Earl loved trains. absolutely love trains. And we took the blue train from Johannesburg to Cape Town and we were in our little compartment and he was in the bathroom and I was sitting on the bunk looking out the window and there was this little dial and one of it said radio and the other said music and I thought well I didn't like the music so I turned it to radio and there was Earl there was his radio program. So we're sitting on this train going across South Africa listening to his radio program which was heard daily and it was the only radio station in South Africa at the time. So everybody knew Earl.

6:21 Yeah., So, cool., I, know, the, story, you, told us when my wife and I were out to your house, but how did you get to know Earl originally? And I I remember it was kind of funny. You were like weren't a super fan at first, right? I'm curious how that all happened.

6:33 Well,, no,, it, wasn't, that, I, wasn't, a, fan of his. Basically, back in the day, I was in real estate and people were just beginning to come out with little cassette programs uh that they wanted to call personal development. And most of them were, we didn't use the word cheesy back then, but in today's cap, it's they were pretty cheesy. So, I was not a fan. And my broker said to me one Friday night, "I have a favor to ask." He said "I have a book." And he said, "And I have some cassettes and I would like you to listen to them this weekend." And I said "Is it personal development?" And he said "Yeah." And I said, "I don't believe in that crap."

7:17 And he said, "No, no." I said, "No, you don't understand. I don't think that people should have techniques for influencing other people." I said, I think that you have to be really good at whatever it is you choose to do in the world, and then your ability and your talent and your integrity will then draw people to you. Otherwise, you're just it's a horse and pony show. And he said "This man is different." And he said "He is my hero. He's Earl Nightingale." Okay, fine. So, I'm a do it now person. And when I got home on Friday night, I thought, I'm going to get this over with. and I went into the bedroom, put on my little cassette program player.

7:58 And um I laid there and I listened to all the programs and I didn't have a much of a chance to leave through the book because they were just radio shows. But on Monday when I went back, he said "What did you think?" He said, "Did you listen?" I said "I did. I listened to all of them." And he said "What did you think?" And I said, he said, "Weren't you shocked? Weren't you surprised? Weren't you inspired?" And I said "Actually, this man spoke what I have in my mind and in my heart." And I said "I think if I ever met him, we'd probably become friends." And he inscribed the book to me, which I kept for 11 years.

8:34 And, 11, years, later,, I, [clears throat] was in real estate still. And I was working for this brand new place in Punagorta, Florida, not knowing that Earl had it was his brainchild and his inspiration and he had it built. and they said, "Earl Nightingale's coming in Saturday morning, so we're going to have an early morning meeting." And I said "That's too early. I've got to get up really extra early." And they had me on what they called a power wheel. And back then, we were still transitioning from it being a completely man's world to letting a woman in once in a while. And so I was one of the token females. And I was out selling all the guys. And so they put me on what they called a power wheel. And I would have to come in early. I'd get the first people, I'd get the last people, and my closing ratio was out of sight. And they said, "Well it's a mandatory meeting." So, I couldn't go to the meeting. And I had

9:30 just moved into a new condo, busy unpacking. Night before I was trying to put things away. Had an armful of books. Thought I'll finish this another time. And I put them on the table. Next morning, when I got up to go to the meeting, my purse was laying next to Earl. this is Earl Night andale book from 11 years before. And I thought I'll take it along and have him sign it. And so I did and I went and he was there and he didn't look at all like this legend. He had grown a beard and he had on a leather jacket and jeans and he just looked like some guy that wandering off of the street. And uh so after the meeting, of course, uh everybody wanted to meet him, and I lingered to have him sign the the book.

10:18 I said, "Mr. Nightingale, I've been hauling this around for 11 years. Would you mind autographing it for me?" And he said, "Are you married?" And I said "No, just signed it to Diana." And he smiled and he smiled and he said, "Would you like to be?" And I said "What's that, the Ben Franklin clothes?" and he said, "No, it's called asking for the sale." And I thought, "What a weirdo." But we were married a few months later.

10:51 He, closed, the, sale. Yeah. He knew, he kept thinking about it, you know, and it was interesting because in today's world when people you know, are doing all this dating stuff and and they say someone's geographically, you know, undesirable because they live on the other side of town. I lived in Florida and Earl lived in Carmel, California. And that time and distance did not keep us from falling in love.

11:17 That's, so, cool., Such, a, great, story. Well, I love it. And should we, start, diving, into, some, of these things and you can tell us about what I'm hoping for?

11:24 Yeah., And, I, and, I, do, have, to, say, too that what you're doing right now is the realization of my worthy ideal and my worthy goal because for years I've had people come to me that have wanted to acquire Earl's stuff. And in my heart of hearts, I always felt that I would love to have them his things in a place of where he would receive the ongoing recognition for the contribution that he's made to so many people continues to do so today. And so when I met Russell it was like he wasn't going to get away because I knew he was the one that I'd been asking God for for a long long time. And we just we were instant friends. The first time we spoke on the phone, I knew that this was going to be a done deal. Yeah.

12:13 Yeah. I, can't, wait, till, the, the, museum's, done. We have the Earl Nightingale section and we fly you out to actually see like that's what I can't wait for so you can see the the final resting spot for everything and uh and then we'll have tens of thousands of people coming through over the years seeing it and having a chance to to participate in it.

12:28 That's, going, to, that's, going, to, be heavy Russell. Okay., Should, we, start, here?, I, don't, I'm just guessing, but this one looks fun. So, um, oh, these are like hog tied or what are these called?

12:40 Zip, tied. Zip, tide., We, call, it, Okay,, I'm, going, to, bust, this, out., Do, you remember what's in Oh, we had a couple of these.

12:47 I, do., It's, I, think, it, it, What, does, it say on top? Does it say typewriter?

12:52 Says, t, type, one. There's, something, else, in, it, then,, too. This is u the last typewriter that Earl had. This is before computers, although many people had them at that point in time, but he didn't like it. He liked the feel of a typewriter. And you know getting back to I said before about him drinking coffee when he was writing the essay. I recently found the original essay and on the very last page when you go to close it over there's a coffee ring where

13:25 really and, and, it, was, like, it, was, like, having, a stamp of whatever on it you know those are empty uh those were just used because it was a better way to just take up the space. So

13:39 okay, it, looks, like, in, the, top, of, this there is a plaque. Let me pull this up real quick. Okay.

13:46 The, National, Association, of, Broadcasters inducts Earl Nightingale into the NAB radio hall of fame.

13:52 That, was, his, most, prized, possession., He felt that that was a recognition of a lifetime of being on the radio and he loved radio. That was really exciting for him.

14:04 So, cool., So, that, with, the, the, strangest with the strangest secret record were his

14:11 two his, number, one, achievements. So, cool., Okay, this, is, probably, one, of the, things, I'm most excit most excited for all the things but

14:22 it's, so, heavy. Let's, see. I think that's everything in this one. So, I'm going to

14:32 You, can, tell, I, was, concerned, about, it getting there. everything getting there safely.

14:36 It, was, wrapped, perfectly. You're, a, professional, uh, present wrapper. Christmas present wrapper.

14:43 I've, moved, a, lot, of, times. So,, this, is, his, actual, typewriter. So cool.

14:50 Yeah., So,, his, DNA, is, all, over, those those keys. Will, [clears throat], you, explain, this, is interesting when and I think there was stuff here was show but like when they were doing radio back in the day it wasn't like nowadays with podcast or they grab a microphone just talk like he would write things out ahead of time right have thoughts like you like there's so many documents of him that it was done and then they would read them on the radio is that correct do I understand that right

15:14 he, he, wrote, well, not, in, the, not, in, the early 1950s uh back then when radio was just starting out and I can tell you because I was there at that time, you know, you had local radio stations and Chicago was the center of radio just like, you know Hollywood became the center for for movies later on. They would just have to fill up this time and space. And so he would come in and he'd sit there and he'd talk. As a matter of fact, one of the um segments of the 1950s radio programs, and I think you have a a couple of them, he kind of discovered Napoleon Hills, Think and Grow Rich laying in the in a bookstore, promoted it all the time. He did he did know Napoleon and um so he was the one that that put all of his stuff out there and and promoted it daily on his radio program. But he would talk about who he had lunch with or where he was and then he'd do the radio commercials.

16:18 That's, cool., So,, were, him, and, Napoleon Hill actually friends? They get to hang out or anything?

16:22 No., No. No., He, said, he, remembered, when, he, met Napoleon, they they met they were going to meet at one of the big hotels there in Chicago and there was a big grand stairway and he said that Napoleon walked down the stairway as though he were Napoleon.

16:37 I'm, Napoleon., That, sounds, he, held, out his hand and he said, "Hello, I'm Napoleon." And Earl said he fought back the laughter and wanted to say, "I'm Caesar Augustus." You know, but no, they they they they did not hang out. But but you know, it was a small community back then and anybody that was in business or, you know, of that thought, uh they they knew who who everybody was.

17:05 Yeah,, that's, really, cool., That's, why, you need

Questions about this episode

What is "The Untold Story of Earl Nightingale and the Birth of Motivation" about?

The narrative explores the life and impact of Earl Nightingale, a pivotal figure in the motivation industry, detailing the author's personal journey in collecting memorabilia related to Nightingale and other influential figures like Napoleon Hill. Through a personal meeting with Nightingale’s wife, Diana, the author uncovers intimate stories and insights about Earl's career beginnings,…

What is mentioned in this Russell Brunson episode?

33 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including record, Benny (grandson of Benjamin Franklin), computers, event center museum, Elsie Lincoln Beddy, Franklin Life Insurance Agency. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The Untold Story of Earl Nightingale and the Birth of Motivation"?

The episode runs 17 min; the transcript is about 3,294 words in 41 timestamped sections.

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