Yesterday I started a journey towards a greater and more focused life (The Success Principles – 62 Step Challenge). I’ve decided to follow Jack Canfield’s 62 steps to bring greater success into my life. For those of you who missed it, the book is called The Success Principles and it’s now day 2!
Be Clear Why You’re Here
After yesterday’s big start, I was again shocked by this chapter. The basis for this section is that you know why you are doing what it is you are doing, rather than blindly going through life.
The great question is: What’s the why behind everything you do?
Isn’t this one of those questions that you’re supposed to just know the answer to? If not, don’t you just quickly come up with something like, “To help people” or “To make the world a better place?” If these really are your “WHY” then you’re far ahead of everyone else. So far, most people I know have a why that sounds more like, “just get by on the salaries we’ve got an blow any savings on stuff like iPods and other toys!”
Beyond Family
As I began to think about this I realized that although I am not the spendthrift like many people I know, I still don’t have a clear purpose in life. Let’s be clear here: I will put everything into making sure my children grow up to be strong, successful, caring and independent adults and that my wife has the happy, fulfilling and joyous life she deserves but what’s my broader purpose? What is it that drives me to succeed on a micro and macro level?
Greed. Oops, that was my evil side talking…
Seriously, I’m not sure that I’ve come up with anything that fits me 100% but following the process in the book, here’s what I’ve come up with:
- Two unique personal qualities: Creativity and Intelligence
- Expressing those qualities: Inspire, Educate and Motivate
- A perfect world: Everyone is openly expressing their wants and needs. Everyone is active, positive and motivated to succeed. Everyone is focused on supporting their family and in achieving their goals.
My Purpose:
My purpose is to use my creativity and intelligence to inspire, educate and motivate people to live successful, active and happy lives and strive to reach their personal, family and business goals.
Not a bad first try. It may need a little tweak here and there but at least I’ve got something to work with.
Advice from Raymond
I was listening to the Raymond Aaron Real Estate Course in the car yesterday and he talked about knowing what your supposed to be doing before you make decisions that affect your future. In his example, it was around business goals. If you’ve got business goals (a purpose) then before making any decisions you should ask yourself: Does this move me closer to my goal or further away? If the anwer is further away, you’ve got your easy answer.
I like this question because it takes your purpose and moves it to the next level. Asking yourself why you’re doing something is a moment that almost no one takes but would benefit everyone!
Figure out your purpose and while you’re doing it, join my RSS Feed.
Buy the The Success Principles at Amazon today.
The “why” behind the Swiss_Mouse is “lack of time”. If the Swiss_Mouse had more time, he’d lead a completely different life. Lack of time prevents the Swiss_Mouse form TRULY doing what he wants to do and keeps him stuck in what he “has” to do.
Posted by Swiss_Mouse | November 12, 2007, 9:08 pmSame here, I would like to have more time to myself by working less and so my blog was made to achieve that goal.
Posted by david | November 13, 2007, 10:50 amThe Swiss_Mouse hopes to use his blog to generate ideas. The ideas will generate cheddar, the cheddar will generate time.
He has a stack of books he wishes he could get time to read. He always buys books but reads few. As a Mouse friend once said:
“When we buy a book, we believe we are really buying the time to read it.”
Posted by Swiss_Mouse | November 13, 2007, 10:20 pmi agree it is indeed about the purpose in life. and actually it is getting clearer to me than ever this year. i learn a lot about life this year alone than before combine. it started when i read “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. then i started to read other books and listen to audio from outstanding people. listen to opinions such as “Pay It Forward” or “The Law of Attraction” or “The Secret”.
combine these knowledge with my belief i have my own opinions about life. IMO is all about giving. if anybody want to experience the greatest feeling in live you have to give to as many people as you can in your brief time in the world. when you have this desire to give you will move forward faster that you can ever imagine. the reason people has trouble in life, full of stress and in state of depression because they are expecting for something from others. the more you expect from others the ‘down’ you will be the more you give to others the ‘up’ you will be. it is our life so we make our own choice. wish you success.
Posted by redspace | November 15, 2007, 5:26 amHi Lewis!,
I just realise i got two nickname which is “redspace” and “FreeScamMoneyMaker “. you can delete one of them or remove the link. if you don’t mind i would prefer “FreeScamMoneyMaker “. Sorry about that.
Posted by redspace | November 15, 2007, 5:33 am