A lot is said about how YOU need to decide YOUR goals and better YOURSELF so YOU can put YOURSELF in a better situation. All those things are important but I think they overlook a key aspect of the whole personal development thing.
To reach your full potential, I believe you need to make your goals bigger than yourself. That is, to make them not just about you but for something else as well such as family, friends, or a noble cause .
If your goals are only about yourself, then you severely limit your sources for motivation. Sure, you can still get motivation from myriad other places. But will you beat someone whose family or community is relying on them? Probably not.
That type of person has karma on their side. The energy you put out is the energy you get back. Design your goals selfishly and inconsiderately, and the world will treat you the same way.
People will be more willing to help you (or at least less likely to deliberately sabotage you) if your goals are selfless, or at least appear selfless. You could even take it a step further and have your goals help them in some way.
No one wants to be overshadowed or made to feel inferior. Which could happen from ambitious, selfish goals. On the other hand, everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. If you can make them feel as if this is the case, you will get much more sympathy and cooperation.
Notice how I included make them feel and make it appear as if the goals are bigger than you. As a Robert Greene fan, I am aware of how often he talks about the importance of appearances, keeping your hands clean, having a good reputation, etc. If you have the 48 Laws of Power, those are laws five and twenty-six, perhaps with a bit of number three.
The value of appearances is talked about in The Art of Seduction as well. However, the main book we are talking about here is The 33 Strategies of War. Strategy number seven is Transform Your War into a Crusade: Morale Strategies.
The war we are talking about here are your life goals and the crusade is assigning them a grander purpose. If at all possible, make them righteous and just. This will streamline your progress.
My recommendation would be to actually have goals be bigger than just selfish desires. However, if you want to take the more Machiavellian route, then at least make your goals seem bigger than yourself.
When you finally reach the end, you will have a positive, lasting legacy. Although ‘legacy’ may not be everyone’s main goal, who would not want it given the opportunity?
Remember: If it's just for you, it will die with you. If it includes others, it will live on with others.
Athlete-Student
BucketsoverBooks
Comments