Most of the world's truly great people will remain forever
unknown. You and I will not hear of them and no one will
write their biographies.
Sure, I love reading about famous people and being inspired
by their success. It's fun to watch the success of a Taylor
Swift, enjoy Tom Hanks' incredible movies, or read the
gossip of a hundred other celebrities. But most of us will
never be famous. Fortunately, that has little to do with
greatness.
I prefer the greatness Thomas Stanley and William Danko
described in The Millionaire Next Door. I love the fact
that even after the financial storms of recent years, there
are literally millions of millionaires in world! Even
better, I love that most of them started with nothing and
created wealth in their own way. And most of all, I admire
the great parents, teachers, artists, farmers and builders
who have inspired me. The fascinating thing is that it's
not hard to live a great life!
Recently, Mary and I watched "Walk the Line", the biography
of Johnny Cash, and how close he came to wasting his
talent. It made me think of Elvis Presley, John Belushi,
Howard Hughes and others who made small decisions that led
them tragically astray. What key decisions made all the
difference between the sadness of Marilyn Monroe and the
greatness of Mother Theresa?
Every one of us is born to make a difference and transform
our corner of the world. We may not become famous, but we
can live with joy and gusto and greatness. Why do so many
of us settle for small problems, and small lives?
I think too many of us fail to use our personal power.
Because we are not "powerful" on the world stage, we forget
that we have tremendous power in our choices. We may not be
rich or famous, but we have the power to smile, and to
persist. We have the power to live with dignity and
integrity and ambition. We have the power to be loving, to
be kind, to be generous. We have the power to create and
live our own lives.
My sense is that it helps to have a big dream. My father
always told us that if we were going to dream, we might as
well dream BIG dreams. I am convinced that what we expect
in life really does matter. I think it helps to expect the
best and focus our thoughts, our attention and our
intention on big dreams.
But I also think it's vital that we not get lost in our
dreams. It's nice to aim high, so long as we realize that
even the biggest dreams happen one step at a time. The
world's tallest skyscrapers are build one rivet at a time.
Warren Buffet and Oprah built their empires one meeting,
one interview, one decision at a time. "A journey of a
thousand miles starts with a single step."
Use your power! Hug someone, or call a friend. Spend an
hour reading a good book or getting some exercise with your
kids. Do it today, not tomorrow or "someday." Take action
and use your power to skip desert or to make one more sales
call. Take some action to move your life in the direction
you want to go. Do it today.
Both Nelson Mendella and Marianne Williamson have been
credited with the insight that our greatest fear is not
that we are powerless, but that (in fact!) we are powerful
beyond measure. Whoever said it first, I think it's true.
You are powerful beyond measure! You have the power to
change your world any time you wish. Use your power! Give a
smile to someone who needs one. Get up a bit earlier, or
work a bit longer. Put legs under your dreams and make them
happen. Begin today, one step at a time.
unknown. You and I will not hear of them and no one will
write their biographies.
Sure, I love reading about famous people and being inspired
by their success. It's fun to watch the success of a Taylor
Swift, enjoy Tom Hanks' incredible movies, or read the
gossip of a hundred other celebrities. But most of us will
never be famous. Fortunately, that has little to do with
greatness.
I prefer the greatness Thomas Stanley and William Danko
described in The Millionaire Next Door. I love the fact
that even after the financial storms of recent years, there
are literally millions of millionaires in world! Even
better, I love that most of them started with nothing and
created wealth in their own way. And most of all, I admire
the great parents, teachers, artists, farmers and builders
who have inspired me. The fascinating thing is that it's
not hard to live a great life!
Recently, Mary and I watched "Walk the Line", the biography
of Johnny Cash, and how close he came to wasting his
talent. It made me think of Elvis Presley, John Belushi,
Howard Hughes and others who made small decisions that led
them tragically astray. What key decisions made all the
difference between the sadness of Marilyn Monroe and the
greatness of Mother Theresa?
Every one of us is born to make a difference and transform
our corner of the world. We may not become famous, but we
can live with joy and gusto and greatness. Why do so many
of us settle for small problems, and small lives?
I think too many of us fail to use our personal power.
Because we are not "powerful" on the world stage, we forget
that we have tremendous power in our choices. We may not be
rich or famous, but we have the power to smile, and to
persist. We have the power to live with dignity and
integrity and ambition. We have the power to be loving, to
be kind, to be generous. We have the power to create and
live our own lives.
My sense is that it helps to have a big dream. My father
always told us that if we were going to dream, we might as
well dream BIG dreams. I am convinced that what we expect
in life really does matter. I think it helps to expect the
best and focus our thoughts, our attention and our
intention on big dreams.
But I also think it's vital that we not get lost in our
dreams. It's nice to aim high, so long as we realize that
even the biggest dreams happen one step at a time. The
world's tallest skyscrapers are build one rivet at a time.
Warren Buffet and Oprah built their empires one meeting,
one interview, one decision at a time. "A journey of a
thousand miles starts with a single step."
Use your power! Hug someone, or call a friend. Spend an
hour reading a good book or getting some exercise with your
kids. Do it today, not tomorrow or "someday." Take action
and use your power to skip desert or to make one more sales
call. Take some action to move your life in the direction
you want to go. Do it today.
Both Nelson Mendella and Marianne Williamson have been
credited with the insight that our greatest fear is not
that we are powerless, but that (in fact!) we are powerful
beyond measure. Whoever said it first, I think it's true.
You are powerful beyond measure! You have the power to
change your world any time you wish. Use your power! Give a
smile to someone who needs one. Get up a bit earlier, or
work a bit longer. Put legs under your dreams and make them
happen. Begin today, one step at a time.
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