Writer Dan Miller in his book Wisdom Meets Passion tells of growing up in a conservative, rural family in Ohio. With no radio or TV in the house, Dan found his information in books. Consequently, he became an avid reader.

However, when he was about twelve years old, something happened that would change his life dramatically. He was introduced to a phonograph recording [some of you will remember those] by a noted motivational speaker of the time named Earl Nightingale. The record was titled The Strangest Secret. On the recording Dan Miller heard this gravelly-voiced man say that he could be everything he wanted to be. All he would have to do is change his thinking.

In his recorded talk, Nightingale introduced Miller to six words that he said could dramatically change a person’s life. The …