Dr. Wayne Dyer
Yet despite this enormous success, his original inspirational book didn't sell. That is until he took dramatic action. This is what happened:
In the mid-1970's, Wayne was a Long Island, New York psychologist, a St. John's University associate professor and had authored two counseling text books.
Then Arthur Pine, his literary agent persuaded him to do something different: write a book about one of his favorite topics, the self-destructive behaviors many people practice.
The result was Wayne's first inspirational book, "Your Erroneous Zones," (1976)
However, the book didn't sell, and it seemed Wayne had no future in inspirational writings.
But he refused to quit.
Wayne paid his publisher to print thousands of copies of his book, and traveled across the U.S. speaking to every TV and radio program and newspaper that would interview him.
Soon his book began to catch on. And because he had paid his publisher to print all those copies of his book when the publisher saw no demand for it, there were plenty of copies available. Wayne believed he could create the demand and did.
As those copies sold out, his publisher happily printed more.
For 27 months, his book was a best seller, and it continues to sell today. According to the Los Angeles Times (9/1/15), this book has now sold over 35 million copies, an astounding number.
Wayne went on to write more than 40 inspirational books, many of them best sellers and became an internationally famous author and speaker.
In addition, Wayne's 10 fundraising specials for public TV brought in more than $200 million for stations, making him "one of PBS's most successful fundraisers," according to a statement from Hay House, his publisher.
A key to Wayne's success could be summed up in his own words: "If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles."