Bob Proctor (author)

Bob Proctor (born July 5, 1934) is a Canadian self-help author and philosopher.^[1] He is best known for his New York Times best-selling book You Were Born Rich (1984) and a contributor to the film The Secret (2006).^[2] Proctor's material has maintained the idea that a positive self-image is critical for obtaining success, frequently referencing the Law of Attraction.^[2] This includes all the books he has authored as well as seminars he conducts, and videos shared.

Proctor, as well as the law of attraction, has been often criticized for being a threat to individuals for suggesting that simply having a sustained thought over time will materialize into reality, whether it be for riches or for health.^[1] Furthermore, experts believe individuals may opt for positive thinking instead of physical therapies or medical intervention.^[1] The law of attraction originates from the idea, purported by self-help enthusiasts, that positive thinking can shape reality.

Life and career[]

Early years[]

Proctor had a poor self-image and little ambition as a child, dropping out during high-school with no plans for the future. Proctor was working in a fire department in Toronto when a man Proctor met shared the book Think and Grow Rich with him at the age of 26, the first book he had ever read.^[3] Soon afterward, his life started to change as this book shifted his focus in life. He began cleaning floors to help pay off his debt and began earning money.^[3]

Proctor went on to start a company offering cleaning services at first - a venture that he claims netted him over $100,000 in his starting year with no formal education or business experience.^[2] Realizing the real value had come from this book, he set off to learn more about this subject.

You Were Born Rich and The Secret[]

Proctor joined the Nightingale-Conant Organization and worked his way up within the company, even being mentored by Earl Nightingale.^{[citation needed]} From there, he was able to master the teachings of human development and motivation. In 1984 he published the book You Were Born Rich,^[3] which Rhonda Byrne discovered and lead her to requesting Bob to be interviewed and participate in the movie, which he was later interviewed on several news and talk show outlets, garnering widespread attention.^[4] However, although there have been some reports of success using this technique, financial experts continue to express caution from not making sound investments.^[5]

Law of Attraction[]

Throughout his material, Bob Proctor aims to have the reader or audience tap into their inner self.^[6] He explains that their inner-self is what is controlling all that is brought into their life - and that a bad self-image, or bad paradigm and programming, will lead to poor results even with training and proper education.^[4] Instead of academic training, which he believe does a lot of harm, his work focuses on personal development and making people aware of the basic laws of the universe.^[7]

Proctor deducts that everything in the universe vibrates and similar vibrations attract each other.^[6] He explains that our mind and bodies also vibrate, and since humans are capable of controlling our thoughts, and therefore our vibrations, we are capable of controlling our results. He has said there is nothing in a person's life they cannot change through the law of attraction.^[6]

Proctor maintained the idea that even a recession was the result of excessive media negativity, attracting the recession to the economy. In a 2009 article, Wall Street Journal noted that if any followers believed they can simply choose not to participate in the recession, they were being shammed.^[6]

References[]