Bigger Than You

Dear High Achiever: I’VE GOT TWO GIGS, as many FYI/TGIM readers may already realize. One is being an inspirational speaker, seminar leader and sales trainer, and the founder of Empowerment Group International. And I’m also the “Chief Inspiration Officer” (a.k.a. VP of Sales) for SelfGrowth.com. SelfGrowth.com is the #1 self-improvement website on the Internet according to Google and Yahoo … gets one million unique visitors a month … and has over 950,000 opt-in subscribers. (Not a shameless plug. The link here is the only one in this e-blast. I just want to give you some context for today’s message.) Recently, I was in my daily strategy session with the Founder of SelfGrowth.com, David Riklan. And he reminded me of a power-mindset that I often share on the platform with my audiences but sometimes, yes… even I forget to apply it to my life. We were discussing a strategy for promoting and producing a 10-city, major-market Empowerment Seminar Series, featuring some of the top experts on Self-Growth.com along with other industry and thought leaders. In our sit-down I said to David, “I’m excited about the opportunity to invite Tony Robbins to be part of the program. He’s been one of my mentors and a role model for over twenty years.” That’s when David reminded me that my goals and vision have got to be Bigger Than Me.nnWake-up call: He said, “What will be cool is when SelfGrowth.com and the Empowerment Seminar Series are so big that Tony Robbins invites us to be guest speakers at one of his events!”nnWhoa! What a dream, goal and vision check that was for me!nnFYI moment: And I’m hoping that by sharing this story, here and now, it can be a moment For Your Information and Inspiration as well.nnFYI ACTION IDEA: Beware of becoming complacent. Over the past ten years my thought process and goals about market dominance and positioning have built up, going from local, to regional, to national.nnPretty cool, right? And I’m happy to say that, although I don’t have national dominance in my industry, I’ve created a respectable level of national exposure and credibility.nnBut here’s my challenge. As David so eloquently pointed out, my vision had become static and self-focused. I got comfortable with national, when I should now be thinking global.nnAnd he is right. Just changing that one paradigm and making a visual shift to worldwide empowerment and impact is very powerful and exciting. It really stoked my inner fire! And since this was such a revelation and realization for me, I’m obligated and committed to asking you these next few questions.

• What about you?
• Have you settled into a comfort zone with your level of success?
• Are there areas in your life where you need to reevaluate your current status, raise the bar and set your expectations higher?

nWherever you are in your life right now, no matter how successful you are right now, I want to challenge you to make your goals and your vision bigger. Bigger Than You!nnSuccess is not about YOU and ME.nnIt’s about WE. Success comes from empowering other people and making a real human connection. Success is helping other people stand on your shoulders to be bigger, see farther and become more than even they thought they could. But to do that, you have to aim higher and strive to become more than you ever thought you could.nnFYI IDEA IN ACTION: Empower your associates, your clients, your family, your community and the world. I encourage you to think Bigger Than You!nnOne more thing: When I was drafting this message for you I had figured I would pretty much end it here. But then, as I went to give it a final review and schedule it up for e-mailing, I realized that this particular FYI was being sent on Martin Luther King Day in America.nnCoincidental? Maybe. But … Today is a national holiday in good part because Martin Luther King had a dream and a vision that was even bigger than he was. Imagine if, rather than setting a national agenda, he said this in his speech — “ I have a dream that one day this city will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.” You’d say, “Come on Dr. King. You’ve got to shoot higher than that!”nDr. King’s vision was so enormous that it inspired and changed an entire nation. It not only gave people hope, it motivated people, and it challenged people and, ultimately and unfortunately, got him killed. Two score years later in America, we are reminded of his dream and vision and see it being fulfilled more and more every day. My hope is, as you go through today and the days that follow, you’ll envision how you can make a difference locally, nationally, and globally. Ask yourself, “Do I need to reevaluate my personal expectations and raise the bar? Have I shrunken my dreams and settled for less?” If you hesitate even a millisecond in your answer, you are too cozy in your comfort zone.nnBe like Dr. King. Take action today toward making a positive lasting change in your life and the world. Make This Your Best Year Ever!