The people in the world who have the best lives are those who have the best goals.

The best goals are ones that are big and lofty and imbued with meaning.

Big, lofty goals go beyond one’s own selfish ends. They empower a person to expand past their own capabilities, to grow exponentially, to even change the world.

So how does one create these big, lofty goals?

Here’s what Charles F. Haanel wrote in Week Sixteen of The Master Key System.

8. The power to create depends entirely upon spiritual power. There are three steps: Idealization, visualization, and materialization. Every captain of industry depends upon this power exclusively. In an article in Everybody’s Magazine, Henry M. Flagler, the Standard Oil multimillionaire, admitted that the secret of his success was his power to see a thing in its completeness. The following conversation with the reporter shows his power of idealization, concentration, and visualization — all spiritual powers:

9. “Did you actually vision to yourself the whole thing? I mean, did you, or could you, really close your eyes and see the tracks? And the trains running? And hear the whistles blowing? Did you go as far as that?”

“Yes.” “How clearly?” “Very clearly.”

In this example, Mr. Flagler declared that he first creates an ideal image of what he wants.

Next, he will concentrate on that image.

Then, he will visualize it. And note this: he will visualize “very clearly.” (That is why the exercises in The Master Key System are of the upmost importance, because they will build your visualization muscles.)

Mr. Haanel adds in point 11:

11. The successful business man is more often than not an idealist and is ever striving for higher and higher standards. The subtle forces of thought as they crystallize in our daily moods is what constitutes life.

An idealist is a person who believes in perfection, to one degree or another. Nothing describes a good businessman as well as the word idealist.

A businessman is forever seeking to improve his product, to produce it more efficiently, to make the customer experience grander. If he accomplishes these tasks, then he will earn for himself a fortune.

Look at the technology industry — computers, applications, the Internet. Changes happen so quickly that we can barely stay abreast; there is always something new! This is a testament to how these businesspeople are forever reaching for new levels of excellence — of “higher and higher standards.” It can always be faster, smaller, more functional, more convenient, more … better-er!

They know — and perhaps you know — that perfection may never be realized, but that doesn’t stop the pursuit.

A vision is made.

An ideal is set.

This becomes a big, lofty goal to be achieved.

And while it may never be attained perfectly, it will drive you to do the near-impossible.

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You will get these books because they will help you attain big, lofty goals.