Life at 17 felt like it was time for a change for John Assaraf. Leaving school behind, he took a job in a shipping department, earning $1.65 an hour loading and unloading trucks. However, this job was far from fulfilling. Just like school, it was monotonous and felt like a dead end, a waste of his time and potential.
At 19, a pivotal moment arrived. John Assaraf received a call from his brother, an invitation to meet a successful entrepreneur. This meeting was suggested as a way to help John navigate away from the troubles he was encountering at the time. Intrigued and open to guidance, John agreed to meet Mr. Alan Brown.
Weeks later, John Assaraf traveled from Montreal to Toronto to have lunch with Mr. Brown. This lunch was more than just a meal; it was an informal interview that would reshape John’s perspective. Mr. Brown posed a series of questions, probing into what the young John Assaraf truly wanted to achieve in life.
John’s initial aspirations were modest, typical of a 19-year-old. He expressed desires for a car, moving out of his parents’ home, and securing a better-paying job. Mr. Brown acknowledged these as good starting points, but then he pushed further.
“That’s a good start, son,” Mr. Brown commented, “But what are your bigger goals and dreams?”
This question stopped John in his tracks. Bigger goals and dreams? I don’t have any! It was a realization that his vision was limited to immediate, tangible desires.
Mr. Brown, sensing John’s lack of defined aspirations, reached into his briefcase and presented him with the 1980 Goal Setting Guide. He instructed John Assaraf to complete the guide and to “dream big,” a concept that felt foreign and daunting at the time. John obliged, albeit with a sense of skepticism.
The guide prompted questions that felt almost absurd to a 19-year-old:
- What age do you want to retire? Retire? I was 19! Um… 45!
- How much net worth do you want to have? Net worth? I don’t even know what that means. Um… $3 million!
- What kind of lifestyle do you want to live? I want to drive a Mercedes Benz and live like the people on the tv show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” in a big 4-bedroom house with a 3 car garage.
As John Assaraf continued filling out the guide, more ambitious dreams started to surface: I want to help my parents retire. I want to travel the world first class and have an Italian wardrobe. Writing these aspirations felt both ridiculous and exhilarating. It was scary to confront such grand ideas, yet liberating to give them voice, even on paper.
After reviewing John’s filled-out Goal Setting Guide, Mr. Brown smiled. Then, he posed a question that would alter the course of John Assaraf’s life forever.
“Son,” he began, “are you interested in achieving these goals or are you committed to achieving them?”
What? Am I interested or am I committed? John was puzzled. “Mr. Brown,” he asked, “What’s the difference?”
Mr. Brown explained the crucial distinction. “Interested people do what is easy and convenient,” he stated. “They allow their reasons, stories, excuses, and mindset to keep them stuck repeating the same actions and results over and over again.”
He continued, “Committed people upgrade their identity to match the destiny they want. They upgrade their beliefs, their habits and their skills to match the goals and dreams they are committed to achieving. ”Then he delivered the powerful statement: “They do whatever it takes.“
The impact of Mr. Brown’s words was profound. WOW, John Assaraf thought. “In that case, I’M COMMITTED!” This declaration marked the turning point.
That day, John Assaraf’s life shifted dramatically. He transitioned from seeing himself as a victim, burdened by excuses, to a hopeful young man dedicated to realizing his goals and dreams. He went from being labeled “Most Likely to Fail” to a man with a mission.
This transformation wasn’t accidental. It was fueled by a commitment to upgrading his mindset, skillset, and actionsets. One man, one question, and one answer redirected John Assaraf towards a relentless focus on “how-I-can-and-will” instead of “why-I-can’t-or-won’t.”
Now, John Assaraf extends the same pivotal question to you: Are you interested in achieving your life’s biggest goals and dreams, or are you committed to achieving them?
Through his New York Times bestselling books, numerous magazine articles, 11 movies, and countless interviews, John Assaraf has impacted millions. Hundreds of thousands of clients have benefited from his brain-training and coaching programs, overcoming mindset limitations and skill gaps to achieve previously unimaginable success.
Today, John Assaraf’s purpose is to share his hard-earned lessons, research-backed methods, proven techniques, and strategies to guide you towards creating the life you dream of, more quickly and easily than you might believe possible.
He offers his knowledge and experience in service to your aspirations.
Are you interested or are you committed?
With Love,
John Assaraf
