Keys to Becoming Successful in Business and Life Part I

These words are taken from various speeches I have given over the years to young people. Perhaps this advice will be helpful to you or someone you love.

I hope to convince you that whatever you choose to do, wherever you end up—if you are a teacher, an accountant, start a business out of your garage, or end up as a major corporate executive—it is your passion and dedication that can take you to great places. To be ready for the good or the very difficult, there are two words that summarize what you need to succeed: Passion and Priorities. And this is true whether you are well launched on a career or just starting out.

Let me begin with priorities. I believe that everyone should have a personal mission statement and that this simple statement can be a vital key to your success. Corporations have mission statements that articulate what they stand for and what they hope to accomplish. I believe each of you needs that kind of focus: a personal mission that lets you judge each decision, each action, each goal and next step. It needn’t be elaborate, it doesn’t have to follow a format, and it won’t be published; it’s a guide that will make your decisions easier and your goals more clear.

Get gut-wrenchingly honest with yourself. A mission is a sense of where you want to focus, where you want to go, not what you’re willing to give up. What do you really want to dedicate yourself to? What is first: family, church, fun, money, power, recognition, giving back, the ability to be creative? Is geography key? Must you maximize your income immediately? Where will you focus your energies? What series of skills do you want to hone? How can you become indispensable to your company and still have fun and feel rewarded? Those are the core issues of a personal mission statement. You may not know now exactly what you want to do with your life, but you do have values and thoughts. Let them guide you.

Remember, what we’re talking about is a roadmap, not a straitjacket. The unexpected will happen, both the victories and the disappointments. There may be life-changing experiences that cause you to draw up a new mission. This statement is simply a way for you to prioritize and address issues in your life, not to exclude and ignore.

Once you’ve decided on your mission, pursue it with passion and commitment. A mission without passion is a crutch. It’s a rationalization, not a roadmap. Look about you. See the opportunities. Stand out and be heard. And remember the role of a mission and the importance of passion in everything you attempt.

• If you want to develop new products, marshal the resources, prepare for doubters, and ramrod the products to market.
• If you believe as I do that the unchecked distribution of guns is putting our society at risk, find groups working for change and share your passion.
• If you believe that we can be providing better health care to a broader spectrum of people, support with passion those working in that direction.
• If your focus is family, you don’t need to proclaim it, you need to show it. You need to set the moral and ethical standards that establish the foundation. If you want honesty in the family, you need to treat every issue, regardless of how uncomfortable, with openness and truth.