2000 FACTS

David J. Schwartz (1927-1987) was an American writer, coach, and lecturer on personal development. He taught at Georgia State University and published several books on the subject. His best-known work is The Magic of Thinking Big, which has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Here are some of the most important lessons we have learned from his work:

In the vicinity of Stockholm, the magnificent Drottningholm Palace, with its various pavilions and gardens, forms a unique ensemble of beautiful grandeur in Sweden. Among its pavilions are considered of universal interest the Palace Theater, a true baroque stage still in use, and the Chinese Pavilion, wherewith great imagination the oriental inspiration is combined with the rococo. Drottningholm Palace was originally a royal residence and since 1982 has been the home of the Swedish Royal Family. Originally, the main body was connected to the corner pavilions by single-story wings; but in the mid-18th century a height was added and the palace acquired its present appearance. The interiors were decorated from 1670 to the end of the 19th century and are considered the most important in Sweden in their respective styles.

When the Grand Place of the capital of Belgium was destroyed in 1695 by French artillery, the bourgeois of Brussels, proud of this commercial nerve center, instead of rebuilding it in a contemporary style, preferred to rebuild it in its former state and styles. It is interesting to note that it is one of the few main squares of a European city that does not house any church or other place of worship, which reaffirms its administrative and mercantile function. The Town Hall, which preserves its Gothic and 18th-century components intact and well visible, occupies most of the south side of the large square and consists of a group of buildings that are organized around an inner rectangular courtyard. Although it remained standing despite the bombardment of 1695, the building was restored immediately afterward, undergoing further modification in the 19th century.

In this circumpolar region of northern Finland live the Sami, the name the Lapps give themselves. It is the largest and one of the last areas where an ancestral way of life based on transhumance is still practiced. Every summer, the Saami drive their immense herds of reindeer into the mountains in a natural landscape of extraordinary beauty. The first traces of man's presence in these lands date back to the Paleolithic period, towards the end of the last glaciation, about 10,000 years ago. They were a nomadic people whose presence was detected by the foundations of their houses and homes, who lived by hunting and gathering and whose main source of subsistence was reindeer. The present inhabitants, the Sami or Lapps, arrived in these latitudes from the east some 5,000 to 4,000 years ago. Other peoples from the south arrived at the same time but settled along the rivers and lakeshores. 

Jack Canfield (b. 1944) is a lecturer and writer on personal development. He is the author of Chicken Soup For The Soul , a title that gave rise to a series of spin-off books that have sold more than 112 million copies in 40 countries. In 2004 he created The Transformational Leadership Council, which brings together different leaders and thinkers to disseminate successful ideas on leadership and management. He is the author, alone or in collaboration, of other works, including The Success Principles and The Power of Focus . Here are some of his 10 most powerful pieces of advice: 

The Wittenberg Castle Church where Luther posted his 95 Theses The small towns of Wittenberg and Eisleben have achieved universal fame, not for their wealth of monuments, but for having been the scene of one of the most important events in history: the birth of Protestantism led by Martin Luther. The houses in which Luther was born and died in Eisleben illustrate his way of life and those of his contemporaries. The houses of the reformer and his disciple Melanchthon in Wittenberg, as well as the town church and castle, have for centuries become important centers of pilgrimage. Due to the richness of its copper and silver mines, Hans Luder, the reformer's father, moved to Eisleben in 1483. On November 10 of that year, Martin Luther was born. After studying philosophy, he entered the Augustinian order in 1505. In 1510 he was assigned to Wittenberg, where he became a professor of biblical studies at the university. On October 31, 1517 he set the Reformation in motion by hanging his fa...

Philip Kotler (born in 1931) is an economist and marketing specialist, holder, since 1988, of the S. C. Johnson & Johnson Chair of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University, Illinois), ranked six times by BusinessWeek magazine as the best business school in the United States. He graduated from the University of Chicago and received his Ph.D. in economics from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He did postdoctoral work in mathematics at Harvard University and in behavioral sciences at the University of Chicago. He has received numerous awards and was elected leader in marketing thinking by the AMA (American Marketing Association) in 1975. He holds honorary doctorates from the universities of Stockholm, Zurich, Vienna, Athens, and DePaul, among others. He is the author of numerous books, including "Principles of Marketing", "Marketing Management", and "Confronting Capitalism".  These are, without a dou...

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), better known as "the Mahatma", was a lawyer, thinker, and political activist. He became a central figure in the Indian independence movement characterized by the defense of active nonviolence. Imprisoned on several occasions, he was considered a national hero. His life and work gave rise to the film "Gandhi" (1982), which received eight Academy Awards.  Here are some of his best pieces of advice: 

Og Mandino (1923-1996) was an essayist and psychologist and is considered one of the world's leading specialists in writing personal development books. His main message is "do it now", with the aim of forming good habits through repeated behaviors. His works are strongly influenced by Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone, and Emmett Fox. His best-known work is "The Greatest Salesman in the World," which has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over 50 million copies. His other books include "University of Success" and "Mission: Success!" Here are some of his most valuable pieces of advice: 

It sometimes happens that the popular name of a faunal species does not seem to have a logical explanation, but when the name refers to something as obvious as color and it turns out that the chromatic aspect of the species has nothing to do with the one applied to it, we reach an absurd situation. It has been said that the white rhinoceros received its name when the Europeans saw the first specimens covered in whitish slime and it has also been said that its name is actually a deformation of the terms used by the Dutch Boers: "weit" which means long or "wijt" which means wide and which in both cases are reminiscent of the English word "white". In any case, the white rhinoceros is the great faunal jewel of the Caramba National Park, created in 1938, no less, precisely to ensure its protection. 

If there is a national park in Africa that can be considered the paradigm of the irresistible attraction that these places exert on the western world, it is undoubtedly Kilimanjaro, and if there is an image that represents the perfect synthesis of the natural landscape that those who want to visit the black continent dream of, that image, without a doubt, is an immense plain full of animals in freedom, on which, in the background, the immense snow-capped mass of Kilimanjaro stands out. The Kilimanjaro

Warren Buffett (b. 1930) is an American investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Main shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, he is one of the richest men in the world, ranked in the top ten of the world's fortunes, according to Forbes magazine. Despite this, Buffett stands out for his austerity in his personal life. In 2007, Time magazine included him among the 100 most influential people in the world. Several books have been written about his investment and management style, such as "The Tao of Warren Buffett" and "Warren Buffett and The Interpretation of Financial Statements", both by Mary Buffett and David Clark.  Here are 10 pieces of advice found in Buffett’s books, TV appearances, and other types of publication: 

Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) was an American businessman, as well as a writer and lecturer on personal development. His most influential book, a "bible" of personal relationships, is "How to Win Friends and Influence People", as well as the interesting "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" and "The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking".  Here are some of his best tips, extracted from his different books and analyzed by 2000facts: 

From Khartoum (Sudan), the Nile rushes successively in six waterfalls, numbered from north to south; so that the sixth is close to this city and the first at Aswan, where the Nile enters Egypt. Before the gigantic dam of Aswan was built, the Nile overflowed every year because of the torrential rains that fall in Ethiopia and fertilized the lands near the river. The Egyptian civilization flourished along the 1200 km that separate the first waterfall from the Mediterranean Sea, in two distinct areas: the upper Nile, which reached Aswan, and the lower Nile, or Nile Delta. About 5000 years ago, King Menes unified upper and lower Egypt, founded the first dynasty, and made Memphis the capital of his empire. With the first pharaoh of the third dynasty, Djoser, the period that historians call the Ancient Empire began. To this monarch belongs the step pyramid of Sakkara built by the great architect Imhotep.

Its medieval streets form, as if falling into the Douro river, a dense irregular pattern, while in the most modern part of the city Porto opens up into wide avenues and squares. After playing a decisive role in the early years of independence, which was reflected in its Gothic architecture, thanks to the prosperity generated by the wine trade in the 18th century, Porto developed a Baroque architecture of great beauty. Inhabited since the 8th century B.C., it began to have some relevance as a Roman camp. Today it has become the second most important city in the country and a great commercial and economic center with a great wealth of monuments. A view of the city

In the southern foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, within sight of the Spanish capital but prudently removed from it, stands the mystical dream of a solitary man. Monastery and Site of The Escurial, one of many architectural relics in Spain

Name : Old Town of Segovia and Its Aqueduct (Spain) Declared International Heritage Site in: 1985 Location: It is found in the center of Spain, 85 kilometers north of Madrid The Alcázar of Segovia, one of the most splendid castles in Europe An immense Roman aqueduct from the 1st century serves as an emblem of pride, a tourist attraction, and even a heraldic shield for a city, however, deeply medieval whose rich monumental heritage reminds us that it was an important stronghold when the border between Christians and Muslims passed through the peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama and later played an important role in the internal wars of the Castile of Isabella the Catholic and Charles I. 

William Carroll Smith Jr. (1968- ) is an American actor who became famous in the 1980s thanks to his participation as the main character in the TV sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." He has subsequently starred in several films, some of them blockbusters such as "The Pursuit of Happiness," "I Am Legend," and "Seven Pounds." He is the only actor in history to have starred in 8 consecutive films that grossed over $100 million at the box office, and the only actor to have starred in 8 consecutive films that reached number one in their release. He is a person very interested in everything related to spirituality. Here are several pieces of advice from Will Smith, each of which I will try to analyze and explain in my own words for an easier understanding:  

Name: Aachen Cathedral Location: in the center of the city of Aachen, in the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen Charles Martel died in his favorite city, Carisiacum  (nowadays, Querzy-Sur-Oise, in the north of Paris), where his son Pepin the Short (year 751 A.D) and his grandchildren Charles (future Charlemagne) and Carloman would be later crowned. Carloman died at a young age, just before his enmity with his younger brother Charles caused a catastrophic situation for the kingdom. The death of Carloman in 771 allowed Charles (742-814) to be crowned as a lone king in 768. A fast and victorious war against the Saxons made Charles take hold of the vast majority of lands of the ancient Roman Empire in Western Europe, except for the British Islands and the Iberic Peninsula. Charles added to his own name the adjective of Magno  (in English 'Magne') and utilized Christianity as a binding agent for his empire. The Saxon nobility admitted his participation in the newborn European p...

Robert Kiyosaki (1947) is an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and public speaker on financial and business topics. Founder of Cash Flow Technologies, he started to be recognized after the release of his successful book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". He's the author of multiple books about financial issues, among which we can highlight, besides the one already mentioned, "Cashflow Quadrant," "Why We Want You To Be Rich," or "The Business of the 21st Century". Now, let's review some of his most famous quotes, collected from Kiyosaki's work:

Jim Rohn (1930-2009), entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker, has been one of the most influential figures in personal development and it has been recognized by many as the "business philosopher". His speeches and seminars have been listened to by more than 300 million people from all over the world. Author of more than 30 books, his work has made a massive impact on other current experts like Anthony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy or Jack Canfield, among others. His most popular book is "7 strategies for wealth and happiness". Jim Rohn (1930-2009)

Name: Durham Castle and Cathedral. Location: in northeastern England, in Durham county, near the border with Scotland. Castle and cathedral: the two great symbols of medieval Europe form in Durham a harmonious complex, accentuated by its splendid placement on a rocky spur that dominates the water of River Wear. For centuries, these buildings incarnated the spiritual and temporary power of the prince bishops who governed in the border with Scotland on behalf of the English Crown; nowadays, they represent the most notable sample of the Anglo-Norman style that England used to challenge the Romanesque one. Durham Castle and Cathedral

Name: Historic Center of Prague (Czech Republic). Location: in the center of the country, in Central Bohemia. The remains of prehistoric settlements in Prague, which have been preserved up to these days, barely provide us any information. The first people about whom we have enough data is the Boii, a Celtic people that made this region be known as Bohiobaemun , term from which comes the word  Bohemia , the name of this European region. In the 9th century, the Slavic tribe of the Czech settled near the banks of river Moldava (currently Vltava), and they fortified a hill, at the same place where it stands the spectacular Prague Castle nowadays; soon they dominated Bohemia  and converted this into their new capital. Old Town Square, Prague

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was the founder of Apple Inc. and one of the most popular entrepreneurs of all time. Creator of numerous technological products consumed nowadays by people from all over the world like McIntosh, iPhone, iPod, iPad, or iTunes, among others. He was included in the list of the world's richest people by Forbes magazine. He published the book "I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words" and they have also been written several biographies about him and the company that bears his name. Some examples of these works are: "In 1984", by George Orwell; "Only the Paranoid Survive", by Andrew S. Grove; and the most famous biography of Steve Jobs, "Steve Jobs", by Walter Isaacson. Steve Jobs in his own House (Photo taken in 1982)

Under Frederick William II, Prussia established a reputation as a country where the arts flourished. The king acquired the services of three major architects - Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff, Carl Gotthard Langhans, and Carl von Gontard - and appointed the young Johann Gottfried Schadow his court sculptor. He revived the Academy of Arts ( Akademie der Künste ), which had been in existence since 1696, and in the Minister of State whom he appointed its curator, Friedrich Anton, Baron von Heinitz, he found a skillful reformer who in addition bridged the gulf between the arts and industry, since he was President of the Royal Porcelain Manufacturing Commission. In 1790, new regulations made it possible to build up a collection of models and found a school of draftsmanship for craftsmen. The royal collections were open to members of the Academy and their pupils, and methods of architectural training were updated. From 1786, the Academy held its regular exhibitions in Berlin, providing a...

Robin S. Sharma (1965) is an author and public speaker on topics related to personal development (motivational speaker.) After studying law at the university, he worked for a few years as a professor and later he acted as a lawyer, before dedicating his time to coaching and giving advice to others. He is the author of multiple books. Among them, we have to highlight: "The Monk who sold his Ferrari", "The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate your Life" and "The Leader Who Had No Title." It's very likely that most of you had not ever heard about this author, so I think this article could bring more value than the ones about more famous people, such as Donald Trump or Bill Gates. Ok, so let's jump into the quotes followed by a brief explanation of each one. Robin S. Sharma

When in the 12th century, Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy founded a primitive city "made of wood" called Moscow, destroyed several times by multiple fires and rapidly rebuilt, a small stronghold had just been created. It occupied a twentieth part of the current Kremlin and in its surroundings were found the courtesan residences, as well as the artisans and merchant's ones. Some small religious buildings were also erected. In 1263, it was established the Grand Duchy of Moscow. In the middle of the 14th century, Prince Ivan Kalita walled the stronghold with solid and robust oak walls and in 1328 the capital of the Duchy was translated from Vladimir. Because of the continuous threat of invasions, in 1367 Prince Dimitri decided to raise the first stone walls. The Kremlin and the Red Square

Jeff Bezos (1964) is the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. He studied electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Princeton, New Jersey. He started working for an optical fiber company, and later on, he made his debut in Wall Street. In 1994, he left his work and moved to Seattle, where he founded in 1995 "Cadabra.com," an online bookshop. It contained more than 200,000 titles which could be also ordered via email. A bit later, the company changed its name to "Amazon," because of the Amazon River. In 1996, Amazon was receiving about 2,000 visitors per day. A year later, that number multiplied by 25. In 1997, the company jumped into the stock market. In December 1999, Jeff Bezos became Time Magazine's person of the year. Today, Amazon.com is the owner of companies such as The Washington Post or Whole Foods Market, is the biggest retailer in the world by profits, surpassing Walmart, and Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world according to Forb...

Name: Castles and Town Walls of King Edward I in Gwynedd. Location: in northern Wales, on the coast. The vast plan of fortifications traced by Edward I of England to consolidate the conquest of Wales in the 13th century, the complex made up of the castles of Beaumaris and Harlech, next to the fortified villages of Caernarfon and Conwy, stands out as the best example of the military architecture of the time and one of the best works designed by his genuine servant, the Savoyard Master James of Saint George, architect of the works of Edward I in Wales. Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, Gwynedd in North-West Wales

Name: Hanseatic City of Lübeck (Germany). Location: in northern Germany, in the land of Schleswig-Holstein. Lübeck, the old city of the Hanseatic League, preserves very well until this day its vast and splendid medieval zone. Among 14th-16th century residential districts, there are still boroughs full of artisans and merchants who reflect the original profile of the city which dominated the trade in Northern Europe for centuries. Holstentor (Holsten Gate) in Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany)