Do you have a “personal mission statement”? If so, what does it state? If not, why not? I’ve asked this question countless times and the most common response is: “I never thought about it!”

Every meaningful life is guided by two things: a clear mission that points us forward, and a set of principles that help us live it out day by day. My mission is simple: To inspire people to live with more gratitude and hope. The way I do that is through what I call: “Alvin’s Laws of Life.”

My mission statement was inspired from my international best-selling book: “Alvin’s Laws of Life… 5 Steps to Successfully Overcome Anything!” The book’s theme is inspired by my “Laws,” which I wrote a few years earlier. Here they are:

Attitude is more than just being positive. It’s a way of looking at life, ours and everyone else’s. It is said to be everything because it is everything. It defines who we are and what we become.

Learning is the greatest gift we give ourselves. It can transform us from nobody to somebody and is the great equalizer. Not learning as much as we can is to disrespect the gift of life. In learning, we must ask questions. That’s good because people need to listen more and talk less. There is knowledge all around us. We just need to listen for the answer. To listen is to learn, and to learn is to grow.

Value your life and spirit. Too many people live another “V,” that of victim. It’s true that bad things happen to good people, and there are victims. The trouble is, there’s no answer to the question: “Why me?” Even worse, victims often get stuck in their past when what they need to do is live for today and move toward the future. When you focus on moving forward, you never know what you’ll discover. Everyone has value; finding it is the trick.

Imagination is the key that unlocks the power of potential. It’s not owned by the young, but they are the best at using it. It defines the difference between obstacles and possibilities. Imagination leads to dreams and dreams make life worth living. Dreams can come true… this I know.

Never give up! Easy to say, hard to do. The biggest enemy we will ever have is the one we encounter every time we look in a mirror. Yet, mirrors don’t reflect who we truly are; our lives do.

What do you think? Are these “Laws” applied to me alone, or is there a universal truth about them that might work for you? Do they work? Time to be blunt: Look at what I’ve overcome. They do work!

How did they come to be? Well, I wrote them with a pen between my toes on a pad of paper on a ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria, BC, in 2003. I found myself in a situation I had never been before.

In 2002, a client hired me to speak for their group in Calgary. They liked me so much that they wanted me back less than a year later to speak to essentially the same group of folks. They specifically asked if I could create a “training tool” and work it into a whole new talk! What? I had never experienced “imposter syndrome” before, but this felt like it! I know it sounds funny, but I don’t do “training!” For me, a trainer teaches a “course,” and they sometimes can last a week. I have total respect for trainers, but that’s why I felt intimidated.

But one of my well-known phrases I had been using for years was: “There’s no such word as can’t.” So, I practiced what I preach and created “Alvin’s Laws of Life!” It took me seventeen minutes, and it emerged from a place inside of me that I’m not sure I can even identify. Maybe the term “gut feeling” can be applied.

Whatever I did, it worked. In fact, that client would morph into a completely new group called “Focal Point,” partnering with the work of the legend, Brian Tracy. They are easily one of the leading executive and business coaching companies in the world! Here’s my favourite part:

Focal Point President, Steve Thompson, was so impressed by my “Laws” that he and his leadership team have hired me to deliver my keynote at their conference multiple times over the past two decades. They’ve even named an award after me! The “Alvin’s Law of Perseverance Award” is presented annually to a coach who has overcome immense obstacles in their job and life by “persevering,” and as the saying goes, “Like Alvin Law… Never Giving Up!”

“Alvin’s Laws” are more than ideas. They’re how I live my mission. If they help you see your life with more gratitude, face challenges with more hope, and keep moving forward when it’s hard, then they’re already doing exactly what they were meant to do.

So, here’s your homework assignment, kids: Write your own “Laws.” Express them in your own words and even consider using your name or a meaningful word to represent the “ALVIN” part. While your laws don’t need to be identical to mine, feel free to draw inspiration from them. The most important thing is to try it. By doing so, I hope you can focus on the positive aspects of your life and Step Into Your Greatness^TM.