Introduction to Living Your Best Year Ever by Darren Hardy
Back during World War II, enemies torpedoed a Navy cruiser carrying more than 1,100 crew members. As the ship sank into the frigid water, the crew floundered in the sea for five days. They were starving, drowning, and being attacked by sharks. The ocean current pulled nine of the guys away, splintering off from the rest of the ranks. Seeing these men were beginning to lose their will, a young officer started asking them about their families and lives back home. He asked them to describe what they were going to do when they got back. He asked them what they wanted to accomplish and what difference they wanted to make. He had them envision how scared their spouses and children were; how their parents must feel not knowing if they were alive. He asked them to fight to stay alive, not just for themselves but for their loved ones back home. Finally a passing plane spotted the men in the water. Two-thirds of the 1,100 crew members perished. However, all nine inspired by that young officer lived.

This story helps illustrate the importance of vision. The Bible explains, where there is no vision, the people perish. What is the vision for your life? It needs to be bigger than yourself. What are you willing to fight for; who are you willing to fight for, or rather, live for?

My name is Darren Hardy, publisher of SUCCESS magazine. In this book, I will help you answer some life-changing questions: What’s your grander purpose in life? What really motivates and ignites your passion? What will keep that passion burning long enough for you to achieve your wildest, most outrageous goals?

Do you remember all the big dreams you had when you were younger—dreams so exciting that you could barely wait to grow up so you could pursue those grand dreams? You had those dreams for a reason—your inner potential was casting a vision of what is possible for you. Somewhere along the travels, trials and tribulations of life you may have forgotten your dreams, got distracted, or believed other people who’d lost their dream that yours wasn’t possible either.

I want to help you rekindle those dreams and show you they’re not only possible, but attainable. We’ll build the path that will lead you directly and expeditiously to them.

Reminds me of the story about a large, majestic mountainside where a fragile eagle’s nest rested. The eagle’s nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to tumble down the mountain to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. By instinct the chickens knew they must protect and care for the egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. But the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm with some of his chicken friends one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. “Oh,” the eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.” The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.”

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn’t be done. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle died—a chicken.

What’s the moral of the story? If you listen to the chickens around you, you’ll live and die like them—a chicken. Inside you is that eagle. How do I know? You wouldn’t have picked up this book if something inside you didn’t connect to it. This is your call to soar. You are an eagle. It is time to follow YOUR dreams and not the words of chickens.

NOW is your time. Now is YOUR time to soar. I’m a believer that things happen for a reason and there aren’t any “accidents.” This is your opportunity; this is your time; this is your chance… but it is up to YOU to get the hint and answer the call.

Are you living the life you envisioned for yourself? Are you where you thought you would be by now? Did you think you would be richer and healthier, have a better intimate relationship and more friends, experience more joy and have more peace of mind than you do now?

I want to help you rekindle those dreams and show you they’re not only possible, but attainable. We’ll build the path that will lead you directly and expeditiously to them.

It’s time for a turning point.

You’ve probably heard the definition of insanity—doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. If you want this year to be different than last year, then now is the time to do something different.

A Very Inspiring Realization
No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future.

Humans are unique. We are the only species who can completely change the course of our lives. Ants can’t do it; alligators can’t and lions can’t either. If a goose wanted to fly west instead of south for the winter, it couldn’t. Animals are directed entirely by impulse written into their genetic code. But we are different. As a human, if you don’t like the story of your life thus far, you can rip up the script and write a completely new one.

Ask anyone who has achieved great success in life; they all had a defining turning point, a time when they made a clear and resolute decision that from that moment forward, their life would never be the same. They drew a figurative line in the sand and separated the patterns of their past from their new vision of themselves and the life they were committed to leading. Some make that turning point at age 15, some not until they’re 50; some do it several times throughout their lives and some never at all.

My challenge to you is this: Make NOW your turning point.

This year, this month, this day, this moment, what you have accomplished so far is only a fraction of what’s truly possible for you. You are far more powerful, capable and gifted than you allow yourself to be. The only thing separating you from your grandest vision of your life is courage. Muster the courage to declare that right now, this year is your turning point.

Make a decision. When the clock strikes midnight next year, you’ll be able to look back at this moment and this year as your pivotal turning point for the dream life you will be enjoying.