What does a GREAT life mean to you? That is one of the most
important questions an adult can ask and answer.
Too many of us wander through life and never ask ourselves
the hard questions. We fantasize that a great life is
having money or fame or raising a family, perhaps driving a
new car or having a house in the Hamptons, but we never
rigorously decide exactly how we want to live our lives.
What, exactly, would make your life fantastic in every
possible way?
We all know that a great life does not happen by accident.
A great life is not inherited and it does not come with a
diploma, a promotion, getting married (or divorced), having
kids or retiring early. A great life is never automatic and
it never comes pre-packaged with the "goodies" of life.
Sure, lots of money, a penthouse apartment, political power
or winning the Nobel Prize are wonderful things. I
encourage you to aspire to any (and all!) of them.
But none of them will guarantee you a great life.
It seems that a GREAT life has a grand purpose, a central
theme and a unifying vision. A great life is a lifestyle
that is chosen "on purpose" and is lived in service of
something greater than itself. A great life is invested,
not merely spent.
Second, it seems to me that a GREAT life makes a
contribution. A great life uses its talents and abilities
to change at least one small corner of the world for the
better. A great life stands up, speaks out, and gets things
done. A GREAT life makes a difference and leaves the world
a better place.
Third, it seems to me that a GREAT life leaves a path for
others to follow. It is good to DO great things; it's even
BETTER to do great things and teach others to follow your
lead. A GREAT life leaves a legacy. A GREAT life inspires
the next generation to go further, reach farther, dream
bigger and achieve more.
I am convinced that every one of us has the ability and the
right to live a GREAT life. Greatness is not reserved for
the lucky few, for the rich or the powerful, for the
artistic or for any small category of people. A GREAT life
is the birthright of every human being, whether we exercise
our greatness in designing tall buildings or by teaching
our children to stand tall.
Greatness is our birthright, whether we express our
uniqueness in business or government, in art or music, in
parenting, or in any of the thousands of "small" ways that
we often over-look, but which are absolutely essential.
Most people remember a special teacher, and many of us had
an uncle who taught us to whistle or a grandmother who
taught us to read. Perhaps there was a neighbor who taught
us to fish, who gave us our first job, or encouraged us
when things were hard.
We all have the opportunity, and the challenge, to make a
difference and to be GREAT. Each of us is invited to live
a life of substance and distinction, a life that changes
the world for those we touch.
I love the story of the "star thrower", about a man walking
on a beach after a storm, throwing starfish back into the
ocean so they wouldn't die on the shore. Someone
criticized him for wasting his time, noting there were
millions of starfish, that he couldn't possibly throw them
all back, and the few he saved wouldn't make any real
difference. The man silently bent over, threw a starfish
into the surf and replied, "It made a difference for that
one."
Set it as your minimum standard to live a GREAT life, and
to make a difference. Someday, we will all look back and
assess our lives, and when that time comes, we want to look
back and smile, knowing we did it well. Set that as your
standard, and go for it!
important questions an adult can ask and answer.
Too many of us wander through life and never ask ourselves
the hard questions. We fantasize that a great life is
having money or fame or raising a family, perhaps driving a
new car or having a house in the Hamptons, but we never
rigorously decide exactly how we want to live our lives.
What, exactly, would make your life fantastic in every
possible way?
We all know that a great life does not happen by accident.
A great life is not inherited and it does not come with a
diploma, a promotion, getting married (or divorced), having
kids or retiring early. A great life is never automatic and
it never comes pre-packaged with the "goodies" of life.
Sure, lots of money, a penthouse apartment, political power
or winning the Nobel Prize are wonderful things. I
encourage you to aspire to any (and all!) of them.
But none of them will guarantee you a great life.
It seems that a GREAT life has a grand purpose, a central
theme and a unifying vision. A great life is a lifestyle
that is chosen "on purpose" and is lived in service of
something greater than itself. A great life is invested,
not merely spent.
Second, it seems to me that a GREAT life makes a
contribution. A great life uses its talents and abilities
to change at least one small corner of the world for the
better. A great life stands up, speaks out, and gets things
done. A GREAT life makes a difference and leaves the world
a better place.
Third, it seems to me that a GREAT life leaves a path for
others to follow. It is good to DO great things; it's even
BETTER to do great things and teach others to follow your
lead. A GREAT life leaves a legacy. A GREAT life inspires
the next generation to go further, reach farther, dream
bigger and achieve more.
I am convinced that every one of us has the ability and the
right to live a GREAT life. Greatness is not reserved for
the lucky few, for the rich or the powerful, for the
artistic or for any small category of people. A GREAT life
is the birthright of every human being, whether we exercise
our greatness in designing tall buildings or by teaching
our children to stand tall.
Greatness is our birthright, whether we express our
uniqueness in business or government, in art or music, in
parenting, or in any of the thousands of "small" ways that
we often over-look, but which are absolutely essential.
Most people remember a special teacher, and many of us had
an uncle who taught us to whistle or a grandmother who
taught us to read. Perhaps there was a neighbor who taught
us to fish, who gave us our first job, or encouraged us
when things were hard.
We all have the opportunity, and the challenge, to make a
difference and to be GREAT. Each of us is invited to live
a life of substance and distinction, a life that changes
the world for those we touch.
I love the story of the "star thrower", about a man walking
on a beach after a storm, throwing starfish back into the
ocean so they wouldn't die on the shore. Someone
criticized him for wasting his time, noting there were
millions of starfish, that he couldn't possibly throw them
all back, and the few he saved wouldn't make any real
difference. The man silently bent over, threw a starfish
into the surf and replied, "It made a difference for that
one."
Set it as your minimum standard to live a GREAT life, and
to make a difference. Someday, we will all look back and
assess our lives, and when that time comes, we want to look
back and smile, knowing we did it well. Set that as your
standard, and go for it!
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