The Highest Level of Greatness (Sample)
PREFACE: Why I wrote the book
Let me quickly share with you why I wrote the book. I wrote it to:
1. Show you my transformation with the hope you too may experience the same, even greater transformation, by reading this book.
2. Fulfill my obligation and pursue my purpose in life.
3. Address controversies surrounding greatness and reveal the kind of greatness I believe, and why I call that the highest level of greatness.
4. Share stories and conversations I’ve had with the hope you may resonate and relate with some of these as you go out to become your highest self.
I. To show you my transformation
Achieving greatness is our birthright. We emerged from eternity to time, not just to survive. We showed up for a greater purpose than getting by.
As far as we are on this planet and alive, we’re entitled to manifest our greatness uniquely. We showed up in this universe at this time not just to take care of ourselves and our immediate family alone. We’re not here to survive and pass-through this universe without a meaningful impact that outlives us.
We manifested at the right time to serve our generation and beyond with our uniqueness and talents. We’re a gift to the world around us and others out there.
However, we can’t serve our generation with world-class excellence. The latter takes believing that we have what it takes to become world-class in what we do. Until we generate such a conviction from within, we won’t commit to working on ourselves and ultimately become world-class in what we do. We must first believe that we’re greatness material. We can all become great in our unique ways.
I’ll share in this book the transformation I went through before I finally believed that I was a candidate. It wasn’t an overnight episode, though. I read tons of biographies of the great ones, conducted thorough research on the subject, etc. It also took some paradigm shifts in my thinking, making many quantum leap jumps, and immediately practicing what I had learned.
The most challenging part of the transformation was believing that I’m greatness material, worthy of success, and whether I’ve got what it takes to become the best version of myself. Once I passed that hurdle, the next challenge was molding my mindset and shaping my personality to align with my beliefs. Keeping taking bold actions regardless of experiencing fear, uncertainty, failure, rejections, and disappointments wasn’t easy either.
Of course, I’m still on the learning curve. I’m on a journey toward greatness in my own unique way. I’m far from manifesting the best version of myself yet.
But, I was convinced that it wasn’t fair, especially for underdogs like myself, to wait until my transformation ended. That is why I wrote this book now. I wanted to share my humble story and how far I’ve come so that readers like yourself may get inspired to begin their own unique transformations.
I want you to pause and process the above paragraphs. It took me years of reading, diligent research, regular reflection, countless conversations, and practicing what I learned before I dared to have such a thinking framework. I’m not just saying these kinds of flowery statements so that you may feel good or feed my ego. I seriously mean what I’m saying.
But, I didn’t talk like this throughout my life. I didn’t know the unlimited potential we all carried within until I was exposed to a story of a great one. Once I saw a glimpse of human potential, I made a paradigm shift in my thinking and experienced a quantum leap. Since then, I have never been the same and passed through lots of transformations. That is what I’m hoping you will experience by reading this book.
If you don’t yet know my story, I was born and raised in one of the poorest villages in Ethiopia. We were poor, without adequate food and clean water. We didn’t have an indoor toilet, or shower, nor access to self-help books, TV, etc. No one from my family had gone to college. The list continues.
I was in the dark. I never knew the unlimited potential of humanity. I never took myself seriously. That all changed when I was exposed to two books given to me by a teacher in my hometown, Harar, in the eastern part of Ethiopia.
It was in the early 90s. It was an ordinary Saturday morning. A teacher we all respected called my name and asked me to follow him while I was playing with some of my friends. He didn’t say much. Once we got to his home, he just handed me the books. “Read these books and bring them back when you’re done.” That was it!
I wish I knew what urged him to lend me the books. I don’t have an answer to why he chose me among my peers.
Retrospectively, I wonder why he didn’t mention what I should expect from the books and what he expected me to be or do after reading the books. Both books influenced me and launched me into who I’ve become today.
If you are wondering and asking what these books that transformed my thinking were:
1. What Manner of a Man, the biography of Martin Luther King Jr.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence Others by Dale Carnegie.
Reading the biography of Martin Luther King (MLK) changed me forever. The story exposed me to seeing, for the first time, that a black man can become great. The thought never crossed my mind that a black person like me could have a global impact and leave an enduring legacy.
Before reading the biography of MLK, I had never heard of any black leader who had global influence. Of course, afterward, I was exposed to the stories of the first black President of South Africa- Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama- the first black President of the US. Afterward, I learned about many other successful great black men and women like Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, and so on.
Of course, back then, I wasn’t that aware of the powerful influence of the MLK story. It inspired, challenged, and ultimately transformed my thought process and changed my faulty perceptions. It created a radical shift in my belief system and enabled me to experience a quantum leap.
Dale Carnegie’s book, too, had an enduring impact. It empowered me to do something about my newfound revelation concerning unlimited human potential. It showed me the power of communication and its direct and indirect benefits. My journey as an author, coach, facilitator, and speaker was launched after reading his book.
As soon as I read these two books, I went out to practice what I had learned. I volunteered to form a youth association and became the first president. Soon after, I left my hometown and enrolled at Addis Ababa University (AAU)- the largest university in my country. The story is long, but when I became a third-year student, I was elected the president of the student union.
Think about this. I was from the smallest faculty, and nobody knew me. I was also from a faculty that most students at AAU despised- the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. I was the first one. No one from the science field, let alone from veterinary medicine, has ever assumed one of the top leadership positions of this historic and gigantic university. That was then when I was a youth.
Today, I have multiple degrees, including a doctoral degree, four books under my belt, and coaching and training leaders in world-class organizations in the US and abroad.
It is short of a miracle for a guy who began his journey from that lowly place to come this far. Of course, what I’ve accomplished and where I’m today may not be that impressive to many people who weren’t where I was initially. Besides, I’m nowhere near where I intend to finish my race, far from my destiny.
The goal of sharing how I began my journey from a humble beginning isn’t to brag about it. I’m inspiring you to begin your unique journey to become your highest self. If I could come this far, you have a better chance than I had.
It doesn’t matter who you are in life, where you’re from, or what you’ve achieved — you’re greatness material. The great ones you adore were where you are today, far from their glorious destiny. If you’ve not yet, begin this rewarding journey toward the highest level of greatness now!
As the book on the biography of MLK transformed my life, I hope that this book ignites a shift in your thinking. It empowers you to embrace yourself as greatness material and to believe that you have unlimited potential. It convinces you to believe that you’re worthy of greatness.
I’m convinced that after reading this book, you will never settle for any kind of greatness but the highest level of greatness! You will say that if this guy from one of the poorest villages believes like this and has come this far, I too have a chance to become the best version of myself.
II. To fulfill my obligation
Woe to me if I neglect my purpose. I was convinced that my assignment in life was to play my share toward the restoration of humanity, one person at a time. I must inspire and challenge those who gave up so soon before exploring to realize that they are greatness material. This task is my assignment. It determines whether I ultimately attain fulfillment.
Since the early nineties, unaware of why I was obsessed with greatness, my life has been dedicated to studying greatness and the great ones. However, I wasn’t interested just in any kind of greatness. My preoccupation was to understand the type of greatness that is fulfilling- greatness that sustains and endures.
Let me make a quick confession. When I began the journey as a student of greatness in the early 90s, it didn’t occur to me that it was my assignment in life. For many years, I couldn’t fully explain why I was:
• Fascinated to understand the greatness potential of humanity.
• Driven to conduct research, study, and fully comprehend true greatness.
• Passionate to inspire others to recognize that they are greatness material and meant to manifest greatness in their own unique way.
Nowadays, however, I have enough clarity. I now know for sure why I was so enthusiastic about true greatness. Today, I can explain why I had this inner drive. Restoring the greatness of humanity one person at a time is at the center of my life’s purpose.
Back then, since nothing in me and around me looked or sounded like any form of greatness, many wondered why I was even talking about greatness. Let alone stand up to such skeptics, I couldn’t even convince myself fully. So many times, I doubted whether I was the right person to crusade for humanity’s greatness.
However, slowly but surely, after more than two decades, I now fully understand why I was preoccupied with investing my time and energy in this controversial and elusive concept, “Greatness.” This is because it is my assignment.
A quick takeaway: When you develop curiosity about something, you should ask yourself serious questions. For instance, ask yourself whether it’s something to do with your reason for existence. Don’t quickly brush it off. Don’t drop it because it isn’t popular in your culture or subculture.
When you have a burden for something, even if others don’t care about it, question whether this could be because you’re uniquely wired, designed, and destined to:
• Address that issue,
• Meet that need,
• Solve that problem, or
• Fill that gap.
Even if the inward witness you’re experiencing at the moment doesn’t make sense to you and others around you, don’t dismiss it quickly as irrelevant. Even though you couldn’t understand why you’re so obsessed with a thing fully, don’t downplay it right away. Follow your intuition. Give it ample time and check it out. Who knows, this thing could be yours:
• Assignment in life.
• Purpose with which you serve your community, organization, and generation uniquely.
• Ticket to attain enduring and fulfilling greatness.
Remember, you cannot achieve greatness and attain fulfillment without discovering and pursuing your unique purpose single-mindedly. Your purpose:
• Hints the distinct path you should follow.
• Differentiates you from others.
• Sets you apart.
• Bestows on you favor.
• Is your competitive advantage.
• Makes you indispensable toward the collective fulfillment of your community in particular and the human race at large.
• Attracts the resources and connections you need to tap into your unlimited potential to unchain the greatness entrapped in you.
Thus, don’t undermine and quickly drop an unexplainable urge that pushes you to pursue something. I’m glad that I gave my obsession the benefit of the doubt at the early stage of my journey. Through time, patience, and extensive exploration, I finally came across outstanding discoveries.
These discoveries altered my mindset. People around me began to see a difference in my attitude, behavior, and actions, even if it wasn’t so apparent to me at first. Finally, I was persuaded that empowering others to become world-class in what they do and attain greatness in their own unique way is the primary reason for my existence. One of the avenues I pursue my purpose in life is writing books on the subject, this book being the first one in a series of books on greatness.
III. To address controversies
I accepted my purpose and demonstrated commitment. I’ve been reminding humanity that we should unchain our highest self and march forward to attain our individual and collective fulfillment. I’ve had some success. However, I didn’t find the assignment easy and still haven’t.
As you may already know, greatness is a bone of contention. The word greatness is elusive for many. It is a different thing for different people. What is the worst? It is taboo to talk about it in many cultures, let alone pursue it.
I suspect that many people may not pick up this book and check out its content as I would like to. They may be turned off by just looking at its mere title. I don’t blame them for not taking a chance on such a title. They’ve been cultured to tone down the inner voice that yearns to manifest its greatness. They’ve been conditioned to settle for what is normal, average, safe, ordinary, and obvious. As a result, the title of my book may not click. They may not resonate with it and find it relevant.
Otherwise, if they had opened the pages and read a few pages, things would have been totally different. They would have immediately:
• Realized that I’m advocating that greatness is their birthright.
• Seen that becoming their highest self doesn’t require being special or meeting some qualifications.
• Recognized that they’ve what it takes to manifest the best version of themselves.
Therefore, in this first book of a series on greatness, I’ll address controversies surrounding greatness in the first parts of this book. This gives a fair opportunity for readers to learn from the get-go the kind of greatness I’m advocating.
For those who pick the book to read, I decided to show them the kind of greatness I’m promoting, which has nothing to do with being at the top, wealthy, famous, and dominant. They find my explanation and answers acceptable. My goal is to explain my position and answer some greatness-related questions. By doing so, they could see that I’m not here to advocate ego-driven, selfish, short-sighted, unhealthy, unsustainable, and unfulfilling greatness. That is why I decided to set the tone and stress from the start that I’m not here in this universe to feed mine or the egos of my readers.
I hope that my readers may find my explanations acceptable. Not only do they read the rest of the book, but they may also read upcoming books on the same theme. They may even recommend my books to others.
By the way,
1. If you find my explanations and answers in the next two sections uncomfortable, you shouldn’t bother to read the rest of the book.
2. If you picked this book to settle where you are in life right now, you shouldn’t continue to read it because you will be stretched and challenged.
3. If you thought this book was all about feeling good, it will brush your ego, and you may not like what you read because it is about serving and committing yourself for the greater good.
4. If you are also looking for some shortcuts to get to the top, there are none. The highest greatness I’ll be talking about is a lifetime journey, and you cannot fake it nor shorten its lifecycle.
5. If you aren’t a passionate person willing to be challenged, dare to take risks, and push your own and the boundaries others place around you, you shouldn’t read this book. Give it to someone who does.
IV. To share stories and conversations
I also wrote this book to share stories of some great ones from diverse cultures and industries such as business, politics, invention, religion, and so on. I also wanted to share some of the countless conversations I have had with some acquaintances, friends, and colleagues from different professions.
You may resonate with one or more of the stories narrated in this book. By the way, I intentionally highlighted the stories of globally recognized great ones from diverse cultures. Otherwise, there are many super successful individuals in every culture and industry; however, I cannot share all of these stories in a book.
Hopefully, some of the stories may inspire you to begin your greatness journey if you’ve not yet. The lessons you’ll be drawing from these stories and dialogues will empower you to apply them in your life so that you, too, may leave a story that will inspire and educate others.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that you duplicate others. Your purpose is different than the great ones you try to emulate. Yes, you may share common goals with others, but your assignment is unique to you (we’ll talk more about this later). Even if someone had a similar purpose before you or even if you are continuing someone’s legacy, your path is distinct.
You’re not here to duplicate anyone’s journey. Rather, you are given once in a lifetime golden opportunity to chart your own unique path though you may use the same roadmap that the great ones before you used. Even if you must collaborate with those who share the same cause with you, you should stay on your own unique path to get to your unique destiny based on your purpose.
Your physiological markers such as your fingerprint, retina scan, and heart rhythm are unique, and no one has them in the past, now, and no one will have them in the future. Likewise, your assignment is unique. More to come on purpose. For now, read on. Learn from the stories of those who became great before you without duplicating and without losing your identity.
But, don’t read this book like any other textbook. You will benefit from it if you implement what you learn right away. Don’t wait, as the saying goes, “until all the lights turn green.” You don’t need to know everything from the start. You don’t need to feel ready before you take some actions based on your initial knowledge.
I wish I had such a book when I began this rewarding journey. I wish I had the foundation I will share with you on the journey I’m encouraging you to take. Yes, there were self-help books that kindled a fire within, inspired, and challenged me to grow and become better. I’m grateful!
However, I was passionate and full of energy. I was learning and taking all kinds of actions and have seen some results. But, I wasn’t sure whether I was marching forward in the right direction. I was all over the map. Yes, I was building but unsure whether I had a solid foundation.
Overall, I lacked focus. I was shooting in every direction without a clear target. That changed when I realized that the greatest had three common traits that enabled them to manifest the best version of themselves. That was a huge breakthrough! By reading this book, I’m hoping that you, too, will get focused and lay a solid foundation sooner rather than later.
In this book, I’ll reveal to you the three common attributes the great ones possessed to attain the highest level of greatness. This is my hope that you, too, will find your triads. You will also follow in the footsteps of the greats to seek the highest form of greatness. Not mediocre greatness, but greatness based on discovering and pursuing your purpose, envisioning its fulfillment, and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the values that define you, advance your purpose, and protect your vision. Don’t wait until you finish the entire book. As you read the book, take notes (if you’re reading the hard copy, write on the pages), schedule some actions on your calendar, and find a coach, mentor, or a friend to make you accountable. Dare to act on your discoveries and watch with awe as more discoveries get revealed. Miraculous opportunities and connections surface to take you to the next level. As the saying goes, “Leap, and the net will appear!”
I’m inspiring you from my own experience. Though I was young with limited resources to empower and guide me, I acted on the little insights I got while still in my village. As I began implementing what I had already discovered, more revelations began to unfold. If I didn’t act right away, the little knowledge I had would have expired. I’d have been still in my little village, and you’d not have heard of me.
Speaking of taking immediate actions, in the next follow-up book, I’ll be sharing the four stages the great ones had passed through before they emancipated their highest self from within. One of the key stages is enacting based on your discoveries boldly.
Becoming your best self is an extraordinary feast that requires thinking, deciding, and acting big. It demands quantum leap actions! Stay tuned for the next book, which gives you the four mandatory stages we should all pass through before we unchain our greatness.
Visit our Books page at www.successpws.com/books once in a while to purchase the book when it becomes available, or go to the bottom of our home page at www. successpws.com and sign up for our free newsletter so that you will be alerted when the book is published and to take advantage of promotional offers.
In the meantime, even if your actions may seem small, take them. Something is better than nothing. I don’t want you to wait until you feel confident and comfortable. Don’t wait until you read the book that talks about quantum leap actions.
By the way, back then, when I started, I thought I was bold for making some changes and taking some actions that were against what I was conditioned to and what everyone else in my village was thinking, behaving, and doing. Retrospectively, I wasn’t taking bold actions at all. Looking back, I played it safe.
However, even those little steps of faith I took made a huge difference. That is what I’m asking you in this book. Those seemingly insignificant actions played a significant role in my own journey to where I’m today. Because of those initial actions based on my discoveries, I started to see some positive changes that encouraged me to continue regardless of the setbacks, rejections, disappointments, and challenges I was experiencing since I began that rewarding voyage.
I was wowed by the little wins I got at the early stage of this journey as a student of greatness; I took so many follow-up moves. After a while, I couldn’t just hold my findings for myself alone. A decade later, I felt guilty for keeping these discoveries to myself.
Thus, I started sharing some of the insights that worked for me, starting with my friends and relatives. In 2008, I expanded my reach. I began sharing them with anyone willing to listen. That is the power of truth.
When you encounter the ‘true’ truth, you cannot contain it for yourself. You can’t just neglect it, either. You must act. If it is ‘true’ truth, it doesn’t let you get away with it so quickly and easily. It forces you to live up to its expectations. That was what happened to me.
Beginning in 2012, I also began speaking publicly. For example, in September 2012, I was given an opportunity to inspire Montgomery College students. I declared, “Every one of you is greatness material. You’re a product of unique design to fulfill a distinctive role. Knowing your unique spot in your community, organization, and the universe is your comparative and competitive advantage. It is the source of your greatness.” In 2013, I received another invitation to speak in Philadelphia under the theme ‘Born to Greatness.’
While I was sharing my findings both in one-on-one and in group settings, I also incorporated some of the findings in my previous books. Finally, I decided to write books specifically dedicated to Greatness. Books that allow me to share my discoveries with whoever is interested in reading them. Hence, you’re now holding in your hands the first book in a series of books I’ll be writing on greatness.
Introduction: Why the highest level of greatness?
Everyone aspires to be great
Whether we would like to admit it or not, we all desire to be great. It’s ingrained within our DNA. Deep inside, we know that we’re greatness material. By any means possible, every one of us strives to succeed. We all have a craving within to become better and achieve greatness at the end of the day.
Very few turned their aspirations into reality
Unfortunately, very few turned their aspirations into reality throughout history and realized their birthright of greatness. Nonetheless, among those who became great, many achieved unfulfilling greatness based on pure luck, inheritance, or their exceptional gifts and talent plus sheer willpower by working hard. Of course, there were also those few who attained ‘greatness’ through brute force, corruption, and other illegal and indecent means.
Unleashing your greatness is your birthright
Whether you have already attained one of the unfulfilling and lower levels of greatness or never come close to anything that looks and sounds like greatness, achieving a fulfilling and higher level of greatness is your birthright. Regardless of your educational background, social status, ethnicity, race, age, and gender, you’re built to manifest greatness. You’re designed to unleash your greatness, which is chained within you.
This book is written for YOU
Notwithstanding who you are and where you’re in life right now, this book is written for you. As you read this book, you could be obscure in the eyes of others. Nobody knows you. As of today, you may be at the bottom of the hierarchy in your community, organization, and nation. When you look around you, you may not see any sign that resembles any form of greatness. Regardless, you’re a candidate to become one of the great world changers.
Because of the unlimited potential packed within each person, attaining greatness should have been the norm, not an oddity. And, you are not exceptional. The whole world is desperately waiting for you to unchain the greatness within you.
Go for purpose-oriented greatness
Or, you could be a very successful person as you read this book. You have already attained financial success because of the reasons I mentioned above, such as luck, inheritance, or your exceptional talent and gifts coupled with hard work. You have earned a prestigious social status in your society. I applaud you! Notwithstanding your outstanding achievements, I encourage you to go to the next level of greatness by finding your reason for existence and leading a purpose-oriented lifestyle.
Seek vision-centered greatness
Or you could be a person who has achieved purpose-oriented greatness or heading in that direction since you’ve already discovered and pursued your unique purpose. Yes, you have a cause, and you’re ready to die for it. You’re pursuing your reason for existence with great determination. That is awesome! I’m impressed. Greatness based on a worthwhile purpose is one of the higher levels of greatness. Nonetheless, you too can go to the next level by seeing the accomplishment of your purpose and leading a vision-centered lifestyle.
Pursue the highest form of greatness
Or you could be someone who has begun leading a purpose-oriented and vision-centered lifestyle. You may be happy where you are and cannot wait to fulfill your purpose according to the vision you saw. I’m proud of you!
You’ve already chosen the narrow path and commenced an envious journey. However, I’d like to challenge you. You should consider upgrading yourself to seek the highest form of greatness: Purpose-oriented, vision-centered, and values-driven greatness.
Not all greatness types are equal. Greatness has levels. The good news is that we all have what it takes within us to attain the highest form of greatness:
• Greatness based on our unique purpose,
• By envisioning the full accomplishment of our purpose, and
• Embracing specific values that define and advance the mission and protect the vision from abortion or stillbirth.
Secure your legacy and unshakeable place in history
Well, you may say: ‘I’m already there. I’ve attained the highest level of greatness’ or ‘I’m almost there.’ That is rare to hear. I’m happy for you! But still, reaching the summit of greatness doesn’t guarantee that you stay there till the end. Until your last breath, you cannot say for sure that you are done. You need to continue creating values-driven relationships, organization (s), and leadership.
Even if you are personally attained the highest form of greatness or heading in that direction, your work isn’t yet done. Achieving the highest level of greatness is especially significant for your family, community, and organization (s). Even if you have reached the summit, you need to keep working at this level until you raise your successors and solidify your legacy.
Otherwise, the greatness you have built could roll back, and your people may find themselves at the lower levels of greatness, or worse, lose it for good. The Levels of Greatness framework proposed in this book will help you as you guide and mentor your people to climb the ladder of greatness until they attain the highest form of greatness while you’re still alive and well. That is how you secure your legacy and an unshakeable place in history.
You, too, can achieve the highest level of greatness
You’re destined to join those who have attained the highest form of greatness wherever you are right now. Those who achieved the latter led a purpose-oriented, vision-centered, and values-driven greatness lifestyle. They changed the world and left a legacy. You, too, can make it to the highest level of greatness, and in this book, I’ll show you how.
I wrote this book to give you a blueprint...
I wrote this book for you. I want you to use it as a blueprint to claim or reclaim your birthright of greatness. However, in this book, I’m not promoting any kind of greatness. My desire for you is to seek and finally attain the highest level of greatness.
To help you succeed in this exciting journey, I’ll share with you the great insights I gained from my more than two decades of studying greatness and the great ones. I’ll also explain to you the different levels of greatness using a framework that will guide you as you climb the greatness mountain one level at a time. I’ll also share some stories of great ones you and I admire from diverse cultures, generations, and industries, such as business, invention, politics, religion, and the approaches they employed to attain the highest form of greatness, which is your birthright. Let’s begin this rewarding journey together.
UNDERSTANDING TRUE GREATNESS
Answering greatness related questions
Questions that took two decades to answer
For more than two decades, I’ve been asking:
1. What is greatness?
2. How do we measure true greatness?
3. Are all greatness types equal? If not, which greatness should we seek?
4. Can anyone attain greatness? If yes, why then are the vast majority unable to realize greatness?
5. How did these few unleash their greatness regardless of so many odds? What is the secret behind only a few achieved greatness?
6. Was there a pattern the great ones adopted that could enable us to unchain our greatness if we follow it?
7. What are some lessons we can learn from the great ones to unleash our greatness in our unique ways? Many more questions.
Finding answers to these questions took more time than I initially anticipated. The first four questions were relatively easy. The last three took the lion’s share of my time.
I don’t regret the time and energy I invested throughout this sacred but protracted journey. It enriched my life tremendously. I’ve grown enormously.
I cannot do justice in this book if I attempt to share the detailed answers to these questions. I’ll briefly answer the questions enlisted above. And then, in the coming three parts of this book, I’ll focus just on one of the questions: Are all greatness types equal? If not, which greatness should we seek?
Of course, I’ll continue to publish more books to address the remaining questions in depth by providing more stories, insights, and tools to equip my readers to unshackle their greatness.
1. What is greatness?
The definition of greatness may vary from person to person, culture to culture, generation to generation, and dictionary to dictionary. Most dictionaries define greatness as being unusual in size, quality, degree, power, and so on.
I found this definition unsatisfactory. It doesn’t describe the greatness I was investigating. Thus, I came up with a definition that aligns with the true meaning of greatness. Greatness is becoming your highest self by discovering, pursuing, and fulfilling your unique purpose.
2. How do we measure greatness?
How do we know when we have tapped into our potential and become great? What makes us say, and say it boldly, I’ve become my highest self?
It’s easy to quantify height, weight, and length. Measuring qualitative things is more challenging, and greatness isn’t an exception.
Greatness is subjective. The measure of greatness varies from culture to culture, generation to generation, and person to person. What one culture, generation, and person consider great may not be so for another culture, generation, and person.
As we all are unique, so is the greatness of each person. That means only the individual knows whether they have become the best version of themselves. The truly great ones attained personal fulfillment, and they knew it. Some publicly announced that they were done and ready to leave the planet. Greatness that doesn’t lead to personal fulfillment isn’t worth celebrating. I never met or read about a great one who felt personally unfulfilled.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone defines greatness on their terms. The subjectiveness of greatness shouldn’t allow us to call ourselves great without manifesting greatness. When one achieves greatness, the whole world knows about it. The world won’t miss when greatness manifests in its midst. You may not describe beauty accurately, but you won’t miss it when it manifests.
Though many cultures don’t consider having a great personality, prosperity, and popularity as a sole measure of greatness anymore, however, again and again, those who unleashed their greatness ended up attaining fame, wealth, and admiration. But, these have never been the measure of true greatness. One universally accepted measure of true greatness is selfless service based on a worthwhile purpose. The greater the service, the greater the greatness, and the greater the recognition.
3. Are all greatness types equal?
Do all greatness types have the same glory? No way! Greatness has levels. Not all successes are born equal.
Not all forms of greatness are equal in scope, impact, and longevity. Though we all are greatness material, very few realize the highest form of greatness. Sadly, the vast majority of humanity is at the bottom of the greatness spectrum. In contrast, some have positioned themselves in the middle, and still a few others at the higher end of the continuum.
In this book, I’ll share a framework that clearly shows you the different levels of greatness. I’ll also give you some examples to know the difference. Most importantly, I’ll help you choose to seek the highest level of greatness.
4. Why is the majority unable to attain greatness?
You heard me say, everyone is greatness material. You may ask: If greatness is the birthright of all, why then is the overwhelming majority unable to claim its right? This is a legitimate question. It bothered me too. But, I realized that many people might not even know that they are greatness material. You won’t use a right you don’t know exists.
I sympathize with the overwhelming majority of humanity who haven’t yet believed that they’re entitled and have what it takes to become great in their own unique ways. I used to think that greatness is an exclusive club- only for a few lucky individuals. This is especially true for underdogs. It is hard for many minorities in a given society to believe that they, too, are worthy of greatness.
Who blames them? In many cultures, minorities are restrained from tapping into their full potential to unchain their greatness directly, indirectly, or subtly. Don’t forget. The culprits aren’t just people in the mainstream alone. Many underdogs, some ignorantly while others out of care, condition their children and the people around them to think too small and stay low.
Thus, the answer to ‘Can anyone become great?’ is Yes. Then, one may ask a follow-up question, ‘Why then are the vast majority unable to attain greatness?’ That is a legitimate question. There are:
• Myths,
• Excuses, and
• Sabotages that prevent the vast majority from claiming their birthright of greatness.
There are myths that prevent the vast majority from seeking their birthright of greatness. Many use lame excuses to discount themselves before they even try. Many barriers prevent those who began this rewarding journey from unleashing their greatness to the fullest. Anyone who could demystify these myths, disown their excuses, and overcome sabotages is a candidate to unchain their greatness and become their highest self.
5. Why have only a few achieved greatness?
Why did only a few achieve greatness and change the world? Why have we only had a few great ones out of billions of people in every generation?
Though everybody would like to achieve greatness and their greatness is chained within, only a few are able to attain true greatness. The great ones we all admire did what the mass avoids doing, which is why we have had a few great ones.
My two decades of quest revealed to me that those few who manifested their best version possessed these 6Ds:
1. Declared their freedom.
2. Detested mediocrity.
3. Dared to leave their comfort zone.
4. Despised playing it safe.
5. Dived into the unknown to live up to their full potential.
6. Defied fear and stepped into their greatness boldly.
How many of the Ds have you embraced thus far? Which ones do you not have? Why?
6. How did only a few unleash their greatness?
In other words, was there a pattern the great ones adopted, which, if we follow, could enable us to unchain our greatness? Regardless of their unique purpose and destiny, the great ones used the same roadmap. There were some important steps they all took. Since ancient times, those who achieved undeniable greatness followed the same pattern.
By the way, I’ll soon publish a follow-up book that will provide you with more details about the pattern the great ones followed to unleash their greatness. The book will show you the stages the great ones passed through to unchain their greatness to the fullest. It contains valuable information for you to unchain your greatness during your lifetime.
You, too, can follow these same steps to become your highest self. You don’t need to start from scratch. You just need to use the same roadmap they used with some customization to fit with your objective conditions on the ground.
Follow the footsteps of the great ones before you. Listen to the advice of one of the great motivational speakers, Les Brown: “If you try to climb the mountain of success by yourself, you’re probably not going to make it. Even if you do, it’ll be much harder than it needs to be.”1 You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
The good news is that the upcoming book will help you navigate the journey toward greatness. It shows you the pattern of the great ones before you adopted them. The fact that there is a pattern tells us a couple of things about greatness. Greatness is:
• Predictable,
• Repeatable, and
• Most importantly, achievable by anyone who follows the pattern the great ones followed.
7. Are there lessons we can learn?
The short answer is yes! As I mentioned above, greatness is predictable. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We should learn from those who have already achieved greatness with some customizations. In my next book, I’ll detail and share the pattern- the roadmap the great ones used to unleash their highest selves and the lessons we should learn from their journey. Stay tuned!
Before we jump to the next section, know that wherever you may be right now, the framework I’m going to share with you in the next section will help you understand the levels of greatness. The insights, stories, and approaches I will share in the upcoming parts of the book will also empower you to climb the ladder of greatness and ultimately achieve the highest form of greatness in your lifetime.
You’ve what it takes to join those very few elites who made it to the summit of greatness. You, too, are a candidate to unchain your greatness, become the best version of yourself, and ultimately become one of the great world changers.
The world needs you, your highest self. Your unique purpose resulted in your joining this universe at this time and in this generation. It plays a vital role in the individual and corporate fulfillment of many in your generation and generations.
Therefore, this is a time to aim high, begin manifesting the best version of yourself and step into your greatness. I’m glad that you’re reading this book as you pursue the highest level of greatness. It’ll equip you on this journey.
© 2025: The A to Z Institute, LLC All Rights Reserved