Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the U.S., celebrating the life of our country’s most famous Civil Rights leader. Every year on this holiday I spend some time reading King’s writings, and this year I’ve watched videos of some of his speeches as well.
I was truly moved by one of King’s less-known speeches, “What is Your Life’s Blueprint,” originally given to a group of inner-city students in Philadelphia. The full-length speech is stirring and well worth watching, and there’s also a shorter version, edited as a standalone, motivational talk.
King’s blueprint outlines a path to success that I believe anyone can use to help them achieve their goals. Whether you’re a corporate leader, athlete, performing artist, student, or someone trying to improve a personal relationship, this blueprint is a timeless and valuable resource.
Here are the 3 main components of Dr. King’s blueprint:
- Belief in Yourself
- Excellence
- Principles
I’ll leave it to you to explore Dr. King’s speech for yourself. Whether or not you take the time to watch him speak, I know that you will have a much greater chance of getting what you want by believing in yourself, constantly striving for excellence, and adhering to timeless principles.