Today there seems to be such an extreme vacuum of leadership - in Washington DC, in businesses, in local government, in education, in churches, even in families.  One diagnosis of this malady is the lack of honorable intent among existing leaders.  There seems to be such a focus on the bottom line, the what's in it for me, the special interests.  How often have we all railed against 'special interests'.  But guess what, if you are honest, we all have belonged to that infamous group of special interests in one respect or another.

If you establish crystal clear expectations aligned with the results  you want (your WHAT), and execute brilliantly to achieve those expectations (your HOW), then you will be ahead of 90% of the pack.  However, if you want to make a difference, to change the world, to leave a legacy, then I challenged you to add a third component to your personal and business performance - HAVE HONORABLE INTENT (your WHY). 

Now if you really want to push the envelope, raise the bar, go to a higher place on honorable intent – then simply add the words 'beyond you' – so now make your goal to HAVE HONORABLE INTENT (your WHY) BEYOND YOU (your WHO)! 

One final thing – the icing if you will, be willing to invite and be able to withstand scrutiny from others that share similar worldviews. 

You see, lots of things can have honorable intent - to lose weight, to stop swearing, to spend more quality time with family, to spend less and save more, to watch less TV.  However, many of those things are primarily for your benefit.  Sure, others can and will benefit from those actions, but at the core of your motive are probably your own desires.  Nothing wrong with that - often that is the best driver we can have to change habits and accomplish great things.

However, what if you pushed your honorable intent to go beyond you -- to make it more about others and less about you.  What if your business intent was more than to make more money to improve your lifestyle and even the lifestyle of your employees?  What if it was to be a catalyst to transforming a community by eliminating poverty, or reducing adult illiteracy, or to improve the lifestyle of senior citizens in their last days, or ease the financial burden of the woman's shelter.  Couldn't you allocate some profit, or assets, or people to make a difference in some community area that is in need.

"A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and

set out to accomplish it.  He should make this purpose the

 centralizing point of his thoughts. 

It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus

his thought forces upon the object which he has set before him. 

He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into

ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. 

This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought.

Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained

will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new

starting point for future power and triumph." ~ James Allen