More than 2,000 people from around the world gained pivotal insights and inspiration from top personal-development experts at SUCCESS magazine’s third SUCCESS Symposium, hosted in Dallas.

“You will only have the external outcomes of money, success, health, relationships and prestige that match your level of internal personal development,” SUCCESS Publisher and emcee Darren Hardy said as he kicked off the event.

The lineup of speakers included New York Times best-selling author Stedman Graham; America’s foremost authority on leadership, John C. Maxwell; motivational expert John Addison, CEO of the $2 billion Primerica Financial Services; best-selling author, humorist and behavior expert Connie Podesta; best-selling author and influence expert Chris Widener; and syndicated radio host and life coach Mel Robbins.

Personal-development icon Jim Rohn surprised the crowd with a phone call to share a few words of wisdom. Rohn, who has been battling illness, said he’s on the road to recovery because of all the good wishes and positive thoughts sent to him from around the world. He received a standing ovation as soon as the crowd heard his voice.

“Say an encouraging word to another. Help another and you will be the one who benefits most,” Rohn said. “Pass along a book that made a difference in your life to another. Let your name appear in someone else’s testimonial for having given them the information that changed their life.”

Colleagues, protégés, business leaders and other personal development experts also paid tribute to Rohn in a special video presentation. (See the Jim Rohn tribute at video.SUCCESS.com.)

Participants raved about the symposium. One called it “a hint beyond incredible.” Heather Brown of Brandon, Fla., said the event “brought me back to the reality of who I need to be and want to become for myself and my family.”

Juliana Krijan of San Diego said the symposium gave her “great ideas and practical information I can start using tomorrow to grow my business. I had never heard these ideas before. I was very impressed.”