"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." -Zig Ziglar
There are a lot of qualities that can lead someone to reaching their goals in life. Some of them are positive (integrity, compassion, and a strong work ethic) while others are not (deceitfulness or selfishness). While it seems that those who are driven by the latter are often plagued by suspicion and the consequences of their treatment of others, those who possess the former find joy and peace.
I love meeting those people who have become successful because they sought to teach others how to be successful. These people are an encouragement to those around them as the cheer others on and instruct those willing to learn about how they, too, can reach their potential. Without fail, these types of people are energetic and excited about life and the opportunities there are, not just for themselves, but for the others in their network.
Back in High School, when reading Oliver Twist, I stumbled on this quote from Charles Dickens, "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." While this quote really struck me, it didn't stop there. With my desire to help others reach their greatest potential, I think Zig Ziglar's quote takes the empathy and compassion and kindness to an even greater level: not simply lightening someone's burden, but teaching them how they can then in turn carry that forward to the people they know or come into contact with. By teaching one person how they can grasp at their goals, they can in turn help even more people than you could if you were trying to do so merely by yourself. Exponentially then, more and more people are offered the wisdom and knowledge and encouragement that might have otherwise been lacking in their life.
Do you know someone like this? Do you know someone for whom you can be that person? How can you help someone else reach their own goals?