In Westminster Abbey, London where many of England’s great kings, queens and dignitaries of old are buried, there’s the tomb of an Anglican Bishop and upon the tombstone, the following inscription:

“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits. I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realise: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country, and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.”

Adapted from Success One Day At A Time by John Maxwell, published by J. Countryman Books