10x Thinker

1: The 10x PurposeThe single question that opensthe door to a lifetime ofmultiplier progress, growth,and achievement.In the early 21st century, opportunities for entrepreneurialinnovation and abundance are exploding forthose who have abundance attitudes and multiplierskills.The fact that you’re reading The 10x Thinkermeans that you’re someone who has both theattitude and skills to take advantage of theseextraordinary opportunities.In this essay, I present a simple solution for you thatcan make all the difference in the world in terms ofhow you’re going to start approaching every aspect ofyour business and personal life as soon as you’re finishedreading.The solution is called The 10x Purpose, and it’s determinedby answering the following question:“What is the single focus and activity that wouldkeep you absolutely fascinated and motivated forthe rest of your life?”The moment that you, as an entrepreneur, beginanswering this question, everything in your past, present,and future begins to line up in a single forwardpurpose. Your brain starts thinking through the implicationsof what the question suggests, and you’ll beginto see the possibility of hundreds of creative and productivebreakthroughs.But there’s a catch: You have to believe that it’s possibleto organize your entire life — for the rest of yourlifetime — around the continual, day-to-day answeringof a single question. You have to believe that it’s possiblefor you to achieve a single focus, on a single activity,that would keep you both fascinated and motivatedfor the rest of your life.I say that because I’ve met many individuals over theyears — talented and intelligent individuals — whoare so boxed in by their past experiences and presentcircumstances that they won’t even let theirminds open up to these possibilities. They feeltrapped by everything they’ve already been doing upuntil this point — and they can’t see their futurebeing any different. So they refuse to think about thequestion. They refuse to answer it. And they evenget angry sometimes when I present it to them.Now, I’m not saying that you’ll actually have theanswer to the question right now. But let me ask youanother question:“If you did have the answer to the question aboutwhat would actually keep you completely fascinatedand motivated for the rest of your life,what would it do for you?”I know that, immediately, you would have a lot ofvery good answers to this question — so right away,you would start getting a payoff just from thinkingabout it.What prevents the answer. And — again, I’m notsaying you have the answer right at this very minute— I’d like you to think about a third question: “Whatare some of the obstacles in your present circumstancesthat you’re facing every day that would preventyou from answering the question?” I ask thisbecause some people’s lives are so complicated andconflicted, so loaded up with daily pressures, thatthey don’t even have the time or attention to thinkabout such a question.The 10x Purpose diagram. Just to give you an ideaof how The 10x Purpose question can work in yourentrepreneurial life, let me tell you how it’s workingin mine. On the following page, there is a diagramwith the title “The 10x Purpose,” and I would likeyou to read everything that’s written there. Then,come back and we’ll go deeper into the whole 10xadventure that lies ahead when you start answeringThe 10x Purpose question.3