Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield was born on August 19, 1944, in Fort Worth, Texas. He spent his teenage years in Wheeling, West Virginia, and graduated from the Linsly Military Institute in 1962. He continued his education at Harvard University, earning a B.A. in Chinese History in 1966. In 1973, he received his M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His career began in 1967 as a high school teacher in Chicago, Illinois. He also worked at the Clinton Job Corps Center in Iowa and the W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation in Chicago. Canfield co-authored ‘100% Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom’ in 1976 and was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of America by the U.S. Jaycees in 1978.

Canfield is the co-author of the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ series, launched in 1993 with Mark Victor Hansen, which has sold over 500 million copies across more than 250 titles and 40 languages. This series significantly contributed to the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre. In 2005, he co-authored ‘The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be’ with Janet Switzer, outlining 67 principles for achieving goals. He established The Canfield Training Group in Santa Barbara, California, and The Foundation for Self-Esteem in Culver City, California, dedicated to providing resources and training for personal and professional development.

Throughout his career, Canfield has earned a Guinness World Record for having seven books on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously. He was featured in the 2006 self-development film ‘The Secret,’ further expanding his influence. His work extends to a globally syndicated newspaper column and a radio program. Canfield’s methodologies are designed to help individuals, entrepreneurs, educators, and corporate leaders accelerate their personal and professional goals. He is also a founding member of the Transformational Leadership Council and continues to be a prominent figure in the fields of self-help and motivational speaking.