What goes through the mind of a 6 year old when it happens?

Furthermore…

What goes through your mind when it happens to you?

At first it may seem like no big deal…

Then over time it turns out to be something more than you ever expected.

It’s funny…

Because even as you go through your life, you’ll still have that daily reminder of what took place, where you were, and what happened…whether you were six, sixteen, twenty six…or any age for that matter.

For me it was the six year old because that’s when I met the person who has made the biggest impact in my life.

And I still remember that moment to this day.

I was sitting at a small white kitchen table when he walked in with my mom…he being my step father Carl.

He had the smile…the charm…and something else about him that I couldn’t pinpoint at the time.

Yet I knew in some way that my life was about to change.

And even though I was still visiting my real father on the weekends, Carl brought a different element into my life…one that was about to change the path of my life.

What’s interesting about all of this?

The same applies to you in your life.

Because there’s that one person who has come in to your life and impacted your life in some way.

Who is this person for you?

What person has made the biggest impact in your life?

1. The moving carousel- As much as Carl impacted my life in a positive way, it didn’t start off that way…or so it seemed.

Let me explain.

Within the first two years of living with my mother and Carl we moved a lot…5 times to be exact.

During that time it did bother me because every time I made new friends…we ended up moving.

Then there were times when I was glad that we moved…because some of the places we did move to I didn’t like.

We eventually did settle in a town in central New Jersey….Old Bridge…and we lived there for 9 years.

Over time I began to see more and more the value of all the moving around.

And the same applies to you.

Now you may be sitting there right now saying, “I’ve lived in the same place for most of my life and haven’t moved around that much.”

However…

When it comes to moving, also think in terms of how you move around in the different areas of your life.

For example…

You may love being around your family and value them more than anything else. As a result you may want to “move around” a lot by taking them on vacations to different places.

Let’s say you value your friends and social network. You may find yourself frequently traveling and going to different events with them as your “hang outs.”

No matter how you look at it you’ll find yourself moving around often.

Take a look at the person who has impacted your life most. In what ways did they get you to “move?”

Here’s another one of the ways to “move” that certainly plays a major role in your life…

2. Hustlers and “go getters”- Carl’s occupation was referred to back then (the 70’s and 80’s) as being a “head hunter.” In other words, he placed people in jobs. And he did so by getting on the phone and in some ways “wheeling and dealing.”

One of his most famous lines was, “you’ve got to hustle” …”you’ve got to be a go getter.”

This was his way of saying to take the initiative and be persistent…to not just sit around and wait for things to come to you.

And this is certainly the one area where Carl impacted my life most…because it taught me on how to get on the phone with people…to take the initiative…to ask questions…to be more outgoing…to help people figure out what they love doing.

What happened as a result…

I’m doing what I love today…as a human potential specialist…helping people realize their own magnificence and brilliance so they can live inspiring and fulfilled lives.

And every one of those skills I learned form Carl has been a driving force behind this.

Obviously…

This applies to you and how your life turns out.

Because in order to live the type of life you’d love to live, it involves being a “go getter”…it involves being persistent…it involves being a “hustler” (in a good way).

Along with this…

It involves doing what you “love” most…doing what you’ve always “dreamed” of doing…doing what “inspires” you most…also known as living according to your highest values.

And when you live according to what is most important to you…you’ll be a “go getter”…you’ll be a “hustler.”

Now when you look through your life…and realize who the person is that has impacted your life most…what did they do that inspired you enough to “hustle” and to be a “go getter?”

What did they say and do to help you?

Also…

How did they support and challenge you…praise and criticize you?

In fact…

This was another driving force in how Carl impacted my life. He wasn’t about all support and praise…he would also challenge and criticize me in a healthy way.

So look for this in your own life.

Because this is how you grow and become independent vs. becoming dependent on others

Simply put…

The person who impacts your life most is the one that provides the “healthy” balance of both sides of life.

And with this comes something else worth bringing up.

3. Keeping the spirit alive- Whether the person who has made the biggest impact in your life is still alive or has passed on, it is wise to think in terms of keeping their spirit alive in some way…or as I like to say “passing the torch.”

Whoever that person is for you and whatever it is they did which had a big impact in your life, make sure and pass on what they gave you to others.

When you do this, you keep that “flame burning”…you keep their spirit alive (as well as your own). This is one of the ways you would go about leaving a legacy.

Carl passed away in October 1992.

And I’ve made it a point since to keep his spirit alive.

This has and continues to be a lifelong commitment because it allows me to give to you what this man gave to me.

And this has already been accomplished in many ways…ranging from “taking his place” and walking my sister down the aisle at her wedding in 2002…to everything I do as a human potential specialist…which includes the different programs I teach, the people I coach, and everything I write and speak about to you.

It’s just another way of me saying “thank you” to someone who took a 6 year old “under his wing”…when he didn’t have to…and at a pivotal time in a young boy’s life.

Think about this in your own life.

How can you “pass the torch” of the person who made the biggest impact in your life…and how can you keep their spirit alive?

What are the ways you can keep that “flame burning”…and give to others what someone unconditionally gave to you from their life?

If this person is still alive…tell them.
If this person has passed on…pass on their spirit to others.

When you think about it…

In either case you’re passing on their spirit anyway through the magnificence and brilliance of who you are.

You’re passing on to others…in your own unique and special way…what a special person passed on to you.

And remember…

Thank yourself for all you do because it really does make a big difference to the people around you as well as the world.