Dear Success Seeker,

Last week I attended a conference in Las Vegas. There are many things about 'Sin City' that are remarkable, from the grandeur of the casinos to the amazing entertainment, the abundance of world-class restaurants and shopping, to the relentless 24/7 schedule. But what I noticed most was the sheer magnitude of everything.

Everything about the city is over the top. Fifteen of the world's 25 largest hotels are in Las Vegas and the Strip alone has 30 major casinos on it. Caesars Palace is one example of the opulence. It was renovated about ten years ago in the style of ancient Rome. It has 3350 rooms, a 129,000 sq. ft. casino (bigger than two football fields yet only the 12th largest casino in the city), a $95M theatre that seats 4300 people, 25 restaurants, 165 retails shops, five chapels, a 50,000 gallon aquarium and much more. Every detail of the buildings and decorations conveys luxury and extravagance.

Walking into Caesars I was struck by the imagination required to envision such a massive project. The renovation required a huge amount of money (billions) to finance. Construction involved an army of architects, designers, suppliers, building trades, interior decorators, managers and administrators. They had to find 25 restaurateurs and 165 high-end retailers willing to sign leases. All of this started with a grand vision - really, really big thinking!

In his classic book 'Think and Grow Rich' Napoleon Hill wrote, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." Las Vegas is a great demonstration of what is possible when you think big. In contrast, most people think small and play small in their lives. I realize we don't all have access to the kind of resources the casino companies do. But I am convinced that we could all achieve much more than we do now if we were to think big. What would be possible in your life if you took the lid off and expanded your imagination and vision - even a little bit?

I remember a time several years ago when I was walking with a small group of my clients beside the lake in a resort town. Up ahead there was a beautiful lakefront lot with a large for sale sign on it. One member of our group said, "That would be an awesome place to build my dream home." A second person said, "This is a big lot. You could put a 6-plex here." I was admiring the second person's larger vision when a third member of our group, a real estate developer, spoke up and said, "I can see a high-rise tower here." I've never forgotten that moment. Three people, three completely different visions.

Try this exercise. Take a blank sheet of paper and make a list of things that you could potentially do if you were thinking really big. Include things that don't even interest you but that you could potentially do or pursue if you were interested. The goal is to break you out of your limited thinking so you see new and greater possibilities. I promise this exercise will surprise you and inspire you.

Review your list and notice what appeals to you. Allow yourself to dream. Instead of asking yourself, "Why me? Who am I to do that?" ask yourself, "Why not me? Why shouldn't I have or do that?" Now that you've had a glimpse of what's possible, what will you do differently in your life?

I'm not saying that you 'should' think big or even that thinking big is better than thinking small. What I do believe is that most people think small out of habit. As a result they are not even aware of bigger possibilities available to them. I want you to see the abundance of options you have because that empowers you to choose the life you want rather than following the path of least resistance. Because what you get in your life begins with your vision.

Once you have that big vision you must truly believe it is possible. You can develop the confidence you need by researching, reading, enrolling others in your vision and studying how others have achieved similar results. Once your belief is firm there is still a lot to be done but the seed has been planted. If you stay the course your big vision will advance towards reality.

Your Coach,

Andrew Barber-Starkey, Master Certified Coach
Founder and President, ProCoach Success System