Several years ago, I came across a story attributed to Robert Schuller, the author of Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do. Here’s what it said,
When I was in London, I visited a hall where a man named Mallory was honored with a banquet years ago. In the 1920s, Mallory led an expedition to try to conquer Mount Everest. The first expedition failed, as did the second. Then, with a team of the best quality and ability, Mallory made a third assault. But in spite of careful planning and extensive safety precautions, disaster struck. An avalanche hit and Mallory and most of his party were killed.
When the few who did survive returned to England, they held a glorious banquet saluting the people of Mallory’s final expedition. As the leader of the survivors stood to acknowledge the applause, he looked around the hall at the framed pictures of Mallory and his comrades who had died, and he addressed the mountain on behalf of Mallory and his dead friends. “I speak to you, Mount Everest, in the name of all brave men living and those yet unborn,” he began. “Mount Everest, you defeated us once; you defeated us twice; you defeated us three times. But Mount Everest, we shall someday defeat you, because you can’t grow any bigger and we can!”1
That’s true of all of us. We can grow. And we can conquer the highest mountains. A few decades after the time of this story, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made it to the summit of Everest. And since then, more than seven thousand people have successfully made it to the top.2
Recently I had a revealing conversation while talking with a very well-known radio personality. We were talking about adding value to people, and he said, “John, you’ve built your reputation on the foundation of being passionate about adding value to people. How have you kept your passion hot and your energy up for forty-five years?”
I couldn’t wait to answer his question because we were talking about my passion, my life. The reasons I stay excited about it are simple:
I value people.
I believe people can improve their lives.
I am improving mine so I can give more.
I know how to help people improve their lives.
I see results in the many people I have helped.
“Do you add value to everyone?” he asked.
“Of course not,” I replied, “but I believe that I can.”
Why do I have great faith in people’s ability to make their lives better, to make positive changes, to increase their capacity? Because I’ve experienced all these things myself, and I know that if I can experience them, others can, too. That includes you!
As you finish reading this book, I want you to know that I believe in you, and I believe in your ability to reach your capacity. All you have to do is follow the formula:
AWARENESS + ABILITY + CHOICES = CAPACITY
If you are aware of yourself and your ability to improve, if you develop the abilities you already possess, and if you make the everyday choices that help you improve, you will reach your capacity.
I hope that you now realize that your life need not have limits. As long as you’re breathing, you have places to go and ways to grow. You can improve. You can do more. You can make a greater difference. It’s all within your reach. My hope and prayer is that you’ll seize it.