This week’s question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
Hi David,
My question is around goal setting and ‘need versus want.’ I’ve been using Napoleon Hill’s mantra every morning: “I know I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life. Therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continuous action towards its attainment. And I, here, now, promise to render such action.”
I love that and have been analyzing what it means. I get stuck at the part that says “definite purpose in life.” That sounds so grandiose and final. I have financial and personal goals… but how do I find my “definite purpose”? Do I need to have a big enough “why” behind the work I’m doing as an entrepreneur?
What I’m going to tell you is very important. You’ve got to find out what inspires you about what you do. And you’ve got to be 100% honest about it, no matter what it is.
Here’s an example. I have a rockstar client who went over two million, really quickly.
Then afterwards… she started screwing around with writing her purpose out on paper. She wanted to say, “I’m doing all of this for my children.”
And I said, “Why would you change your purpose?”
She felt guilty that her children weren’t in her purpose.
I was like, “If they’re not in there, then they’re not in there. It’s not that you’re ignoring your kids. But you have to be honest with yourself about what turns you on about what you do.”
What turns her on is being seen, being public, being on the world stage, and doing what she does.
“If you take that away and allow yourself to feel guilty—then say you’re doing this all for your kids—you’re going to crash your business,” I told her.
It doesn’t matter what your purpose is,
as long as you’re honest about it.
Ask yourself: “What do I absolutely love about what I do, more than anything else?”
If it’s helping people, great. If it’s building a team, great. If it’s having enough money to buy a Ferrari… buy a house… provide for your family… great.
Whatever it is—whatever gets you out of bed in the morning that excites you about what you do—THAT’S the purpose you need to focus on. At least for now.
If you feel guilt or shame around it, remember:
Whenever you experience guilt and shame, understand that’s not your voice talking to you. That’s the voice of the person who installed guilt and shame into your subconscious mind (usually a parent).
You need to tell that person to get the flying f@&% out of your head. Because it’s not you.
We’re not born with guilt or shame. Someone put it into our mind.
So, if you start feeling guilty about something, or you start feeling shame, you have to ask yourself, “Whose voice is that in my head?”
