Make Your Goals Bigger than Yourself
01. Sep, 2010 
4 Comments
By Bob Kaelin
Years ago I worked for a man who, at the time, was the richest man in the state of Utah. I ran one of his companies and we became close.
I quickly learned that his whole goal in life was to make more money.
When I first started working for him, another Utah man was richer. He celebrated when his net worth superseded that of the other man.
He would criticize philanthropists for diminishing their net worth. Accumulating wealth was his entire focus.
I don’t mean to criticize this good man unfairly. The fact is that he did a lot of good in the world.
I’ve just learned for myself that if I focus on acquiring and accumulating, without sharing my blessings with others, I can never progress beyond my current level.
One of my favorite books is Self-Wealth: Creating Prosperity, Serenity, & Balance in Your Life. The authors write:
“If you have included in your self-wealth plan a specific goal of providing a significant part of your newly-acquired wealth to others, and if you are passionately intent to follow through, your motivation is far stronger.”
I have found this to be true in my own life.
When I was younger, I used to dream of being a millionaire. Now that doesn’t mean much to me. Now I have bigger, more philanthropic goals — and these motivate me far more than my previous selfish goals.
I don’t hold myself up as a Mother Teresa. I simply know the motivational power of having goals bigger than personal comfort and pleasure.
Anyone can become a millionaire. But few become truly great by making their goals bigger than themselves.
Are you one of them?
I think I am too good at the “providing a significant part of your newly-acquired wealth to others” and have to learn to find balance there too, and keep some for operating capital!
I agree 100% and have tried to put this into words. Thank you, Bob, for expressing my thoughts so well.
Great article, so true!