Our Founder
Paul J. Meyer, Founder (1928-2009)
Born in San Mateo, California in 1928 to a German immigrant father and a mother of Scottish descent, Paul J. Meyer possessed an unyielding urge to learn, to excel, and to be innovative in all his endeavors.
Always considered a person with an idea ahead of its time, Meyer became interested in the principles of personal growth, development, and success at an early age. He was particularly interested in the process of goal setting, as this process was in tune with his keen desire for personal achievement. By using goal-setting principles in his chosen career of professional sales, Meyer became a millionaire by the age of 27.
More importantly, however, Meyer held the firm belief that all people, regardless of their gender, personality, social standing, or level of education, could develop the necessary characteristics to achieve and live a lifetime of success. To this end, Meyer founded Success Motivation Institute, Inc. in 1960, a company dedicated to motivating people to their full potential. This company brought into reality Meyer’s long-standing dream of providing practical, effective materials to help people achieve their goals and enjoy greater success.
About Jon West and His Company
Jonathan R. West, LMI Partner
Jonathan is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major who served on active and reserve duty. As a Platoon Leader, he served alongside British Royal Commandos in Norway. He served as a Company Commander and in Plans, Policies, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps.
He holds a Master’s degree in leadership from the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA, and a Master's degree in Human Resources Management from the School of Business at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. Jon has done extensive post-graduate studies in leadership and management development. He has taken or facilitated all LMI programs.
Jon was a clinical professor at the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, where he taught leadership and management using LMI programs with hundreds of key leaders on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He has been with LMI for 35 years and has reached the Lifetime Degree of President’s Honor Club and the Leader level of LMI’s Leadership Council.
Before LMI, Jon led Employee Relations and Performance Management for the 13,000-employee Black & Decker manufacturing plant in Easton, Maryland.
With his guidance, the plant’s manufacturing employees quadrupled production over four years, breaking all company records by setting clear goals, creating a clear Plan of Action, and using positive reinforcement.
An Eagle Scout, Jon was a Friends of Scouting Volunteer for the Boy Scouts, raising over a million dollars for scouting. He is a past Board member of the St. Andrew’s Society of the Eastern Shore and the Military Officers Association of the Eastern Shore.
In 2018, the Royal Order of Scotland knighted Jon for his lifetime achievements. He is a Past Master of Coats Lodge 102 in Easton and a Scottish Rite Freemason. He is also a York Rite Knights Templar.
Jon lives with his wife, Caron, a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, in beautiful Easton, Maryland.