Wayne Dyer was a motivational speaker and self-help author from the United States. He was known as the “Father of Motivation” or the “Father of the Modern Self-Help Movement.” He spent the majority of his youth in orphanages and foster homes, and it was this experience that motivated him to succeed in life. He took a lot of inspiration from his own life experiences. After graduating from Wayne State University with a D.Ed. in Counseling, he began his work as a guidance counselor. He started a private therapeutic practice and published articles. His motivational talks attracted a huge number of pupils, who encouraged him to write down his ideas. His first book, ‘Your Erroneous Zones,’ was the result. Following that, he went all out to promote his book, visiting bookstores and giving media interviews. He made appearances on talk shows and released audio CDs of his motivating remarks. He emphasized self-actualization and self-reliance above lingering in guilt. He didn’t discuss spirituality till later in his career. Instead of being a Christian or a Buddhist, he promoted the idea of being Christ-like or Buddha-like. He had eight children after three marriages.
Childhood and Adolescence
Wayne Dyer was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 10, 1940, to Melvin Lyle and Hazel Irene Dyer. He spent much of his childhood in a Detroit orphanage. Denby High School was his alma mater.
He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1958 and served for four years. He went on to Wayne State University to get his D.Ed. in Counseling.
Career of Wayne
Wayne Dyer began his work as a high school guidance counselor in Detroit before moving on to St. John’s University in New York City to teach counsellor education.
He began publishing his work in publications while working as a professor, and he also established his own therapy practice. The majority of his lectures and sermons at St. John’s focused on positive thinking and motivational speaking tactics, which proved immensely popular among the student body.
He was instructed to write down his ideas. In 1976, his first book, ‘Your Erroneous Zones,’ was published. After resigning his teaching profession, he embarked on a publicity tour with persistent persistence.
He became well-known as a result of his appearances in bookstores and media interviews, and he was invited to television chat shows such as ‘The Today Show,’ ‘The Tonight Show,’ and ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
He used lecture tours to capitalize on the success of his book. He recorded a series of motivating talks and thoughts and put them on audiotape. He continued to write and publish books.
He was a self-made man who would often share stories from his life that added to his charm. He stressed the need of self-actualization and self-reliance.
He despised the emphasis on guilt, seeing it as a way of lingering on the past while neglecting to live in the present. He demonstrated how individuals, including parents and students, go on guilt trips.
He talked about spirituality in his 1992 book, ‘Real Magic,’ which he had previously avoided discussing. He discussed greater awareness in his book, ‘Your Scared Self.’
He analyzed Lao Tzu’s wisdom and tried to justify it in a current perspective in the book ‘Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao,’ published in 2007.
He gave an impeccable seven-step approach in his book, ‘Excuses Begone! How To Change Lifelong, Self-Defeating Thinking Habits,’ published in 2009, that makes the limiting causes disappear, leading to remarkable outcomes.
‘Applying the Wisdom of the Ages,’ his book, gives us an insight into the search for answers to issues that we all face at some point in our lives.
Some of the books for which he produced audio CDs are ‘You’ll See It When You Believe It,’ ‘The Sky’s the Limit,’ and ‘Pulling Your Own Strings.’
Author Stephen Mitchell accused him of plagiarism in 2010, and a lawsuit was brought against him. He was accused of stealing 200 lines from Mitchell’s ‘Tao Te Ching’ interpretation.
Major Projects of Wayne
‘Your Erroneous Zones,’ written by Wayne Dyer in 1976, is one of the best-selling books of all time. It was a ground-breaking book that went on to sell more than 35 million copies.
‘Manifest Your Destiny,’ ‘Wisdom of the Ages,’ ‘Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life,’ ‘Excuses Begone!,’ and ‘Wishes Fulfilled’ are just a few of his best-selling self-help books.
Achievements & Awards
The International Speakers Hall of Fame inducted him.
In 1987, he received Toastmasters International’s renowned Golden Gavel Award. Individuals that excel in the disciplines of communication and leadership are recognized with this award.
Personal History and Legacy
Wayne Dyer was married three times. Judy was his first wife, with whom he had a daughter. Susan Casselman was his second wife. They didn’t have any children of their own.
Marcelene was his third wife, with whom he had five children. From a previous marriage, she already had two children. They split up in 2003.
He died of a heart attack on August 29, 2015, in Maui, Hawaii, at the age of 75.
Estimated Net Worth
Wayne Dyer is a $20 million dollar motivational speaker and self-help author from the United States.
Trivia
This self-help motivational author has acted in the spiritual film ‘The Shift,’ which is about finding one’s life’s purpose. Portia de Rossi and Michael DeLuise also star in the film.