Like so many of you, my why has evolved. When I started in business, my why was driven by desperation. I was behind on my bills. I was behind on my promises to myself. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was a waiter, was never really motivated by school, but always had a burning desire to be a huge success in life. I remember one of my early mentors, Jim Rohn, saying “For things to change, you have to change. For things to get better, you have to get better”. The simple truth was that I was willing to sacrifice 20 hour work days and work 7 days a week and do whatever was necessary because I wanted all my dreams to come true.
While that strong work discipline was driven by my own desires, over time my view on life began to change. I started to understand that achievement was more about how I impacted the lives of others rather than what I accomplished to fulfill my own needs. In essence, my “why” became driven by inspiration vs. desperation. Today, work (and life) has never been more fun or more rewarding. While I surpassed all my original dreams, I never stopped dreaming. These days my dreams are about providing massive value to the lives of others. I have been fortunate to have a powerful business vehicle to pursue those dreams. It is great to be able to use my talents, experiences and resources to bring better products and wealth to people all over the world.
I am sure that most of you understand the Power of Why. The question is whether you are applying this principle, not whether you understand it. Action is always necessary to produce results. Since dreams often become the pathway to our “why”, I want to share with you one of my favorite books on this subject, Dr. John Maxwell’s “Put Your Dreams to the Test”. In this book he highlights 10 important questions you MUST answer to test your dreams:
1. Is my dream really my dream? If you want to achieve your dream, you must “own” it. It must be yours, not your parents’, teachers’, or anyone else’s. If the achievement of a dream is not of great importance to YOU, it’s unlikely that you will do what’s required to accomplish it.
2. Do I clearly see my dream? What does it look like? The more specific you are on what your dream looks like, the more likely you will be to achieve it. This is one of the reasons I encourage people to cut out images of their “big” goals and dreams, create a collage, and look at it regularly. At first you may only see a piece of your dream; but each day as you move closer, the clearer it will become.
3. Am I depending on things within my control? This is when you have to be honest with yourself and determine if reaching your dream is within your control. Are you depending on others? If so, who? Do you have the talent, skill or ability to make it come true? If not, can you develop what you are lacking?
4. Do I have the energy to achieve it? This is the passion question. Think of your last great accomplishment. How much energy did it require of you? Is your dream important enough to you that you will put forth the energy necessary over the time period required?
5. Do I have a strategy? I see very few people who take the time to put together a “real” plan to reach their goals. I am often left in awe, wondering, “How do you think you can achieve your goal without putting together a plan?” A plan outlines the things you must do in a prioritized sequence to achieve your desired outcome.
6. Who do I have around me that can help me? Dr. Maxwell said, “A nightmare is a big dream with a bad team.” Who’s on your team to support, encourage, and help you? If you don’t have the right people on your team, identify people you admire and respect; then determine how they can help you.
7. Am I willing to pay the price? This is when you have a gut check and ask yourself, “Am I willing to do what is required of me to see my dream come true?” The bigger your dream,the more it will require of you. Are you willing to put forth the effort, overcome the obstacles, and deal with the disappointments that you will face on your journey?
8. Am I moving closer? This is the tenacity question. Am I closer to reaching my dream today than I was yesterday? Was I closer yesterday than the day before? Look at your “To Do” lists over the last week and identify the steps you have taken toward your dream.
9. Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction? If you are not growing and developing yourself in the pursuit of your dream, it may be time to identify a new one. Your journey must be fulfilling.
10. Does my dream benefit others? If so, Who? Why? If your dream is all about your selfish desires, it’s unlikely that it will ever be realized. Zig Ziglar, the most recognized sales trainer in American history, said, “When you help enough other people get what they want, you will have everything you want.”
In the end, remember that no dream is possible unless it is greater than your biggest obstacle. There is greatness in all of us. While all our journeys will be different, it is the Power of our Why that will have a major impact on our life’s journey and accomplishments. I hope this blog will challenge you to take a close look at the Power of your Why, and inspire you to make it the source of your motivation. In doing so, I think you will find that life will reward you greater than you ever imagined possible.
Samurai-Marketer
Joachim Pettersson
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