his state of depression with every looking at this talented crowd, chances
disappointment.
are good that all of you will achieve
them.” I paused. “In a way, my goal is
“Jim Stockdale never set a date. He much like James Stockdale’s in that his
simply knew that one day, no matter goal was never really about him. His
how long it took, he would attain his goal centered more on his family than
goal.”
it did on himself. Similarly, my goal is
not about me. My heart is centered on
At this I paused, allowing my eyes to reaching another group of people.”
slowly sweep across the corporate
crowd before me. “Do you know what I had the group’s complete attention
his goal was?” I asked. “His goal was now, and I started my slide presentation.
to see his wife and children again. It Images of young children flickered
didn’t matter when. He wasn’t focused across the screen.
on how long it might take. He was just
determined to see his family again. “Children just like these all around the
Stockdale refused to allow the foreign world are being used in the most vile and
power holding him captive to intimidate degrading manner imaginable. At this
him or cause him stress over the timing very moment, somewhere in the world
of his release. He would not allow the a child is being used for commercial
prison guards to bully him into losing his sexual exploitation. I’m talking about
mind. He chose to center his reality on children from seven to ten years old,
the knowledge that eventually he would sometimes even younger! Children are
achieve this one basic, but profoundly being raped multiple times every day
meaningful goal he had set for himself.” to satisfy the sick desires of depraved
men.
I asked my audience. “What is your
goal? How are you moving forward? “You want to know my goal? My ‘why’?
There are no wrong answers. Nobody I live, breathe, and work to set these
here will judge the goal you aspire to. children free! Everything I do in this
What is it that you ultimately want?”
company is based on the number of
children I can free from slavery. This
Several people responded predictably. is my motivation for reaching a certain
One guy wanted to become a millionaire. number of clients, as it enables me to
Another man wanted a yacht. These attain a stipulated level of income. This
different aspirations revealed the in turn means I will earn that much more
essence of each heart’s desire, and money, which translates into setting
the desires were valid. Nobody judged more children free. That’s why I’m
them. Having firmly established the standing here today. This is my why.”
platform I needed, I prepared to reveal
my own why.
I walked off the stage.
“This is great,” I began. “Each of you has The place erupted.
a specific dream you’re following, and
Solutions • 9