Life is short, make it great

Author: Dale Carnegie

Again and again, we hear about the power of a compelling personal vision. We hear it constantly from top motivational speakers, and it's difficult to find a book on self-development or organizational development that doesn't attest to the importance of creating a personal vision. Yet, repeatedly, less than ten percent of audiences attending Dale Carnegie lectures answer "yes" when asked if they have a concise written statement of their vision for the future. Why? Let's face it, this is perhaps the most difficult question of all. What do I want my life to mean? What is my purpose in it? These are questions that men and women have faced for centuries. Nevertheless, it remains essential to dedicate the time, energy, and effort to find and define this important vision. So, what will we gain from this effort? Why bother? What will this vision help us achieve? The answer is that lasting achievement and true excellence are great and highly valued aspirations associated with it. As such, they are not easily obtained. To achieve these rare and invaluable accomplishments, one must be willing to invest time and effort in facing setbacks and frustrations. And to find the energy and strength to pursue happiness and confront and overcome hardships, one needs a compelling future vision filled with desired outcomes.