Seeing Neale Daniher’s inspirational work raising awareness and dollars as part of the “Freeze MND” campaign really had an effect on me. Here is a guy who is struggling big time himself – he knows a cure will be too late to save him – but he has nevertheless devoted his energy to gathering resources that will help others long after he's gone. It’s the embodiment of ‘leaving a legacy’.

It’s easy for us business owners (especially accountant business owners!) to get too focused on the bottom line. I’ve been guilty of it more than most.

Neale’s not the first great person to remind me that there’s more to life than making money. My wife has repeatedly drummed it into me the importance of 'enjoying the journey' over the years. And seeing my mum go through a health scare recently really brought into focus that we’re only here for a short time, so we should make time to stop and smell the roses.

All this that inevitably leads you to think about the legacy you'll leave behind; the difference (however big or small) that you'll make.

So while life’s not all about making money, one of the advantages of having some coin is you’re able to help others and make a difference. You can leave a legacy for your children or loved ones, and possibly for other causes that matter to you.

One philosophy in particular has stood me in good stead in business, finance and life in general: “Focus on what you give, and what you want will come to you.”

This philosophy is not at odds with building a successful business, or building a secure future for your family – on the contrary, I believe it’s vital to helping you achieve true success in all these areas.

For a start, it gets you thinking about your purpose and your ‘why’:

• How do you define what you do (your purpose)?
• Why do you do what you do? What is the burning drive that gets you out of bed in the mornings?

We can’t all be as inspirational and touch as many lives as Neale Daniher or other global philanthropists. But if we all do our little bit, in our area of genius, then we can improve the world one experience at a time. It just takes the courage to have a crack, and the confidence that you can make a difference.

In my own humble way, I’m trying to make a difference.

I had a vision the other day: What if I could help 10,000 business owners build better businesses? That would change a lot of lives.

Helping business owners is something I do every day – whether working with clients at The Practice, presenting to business owners around the country, or through my media work. It’s what drives me to get out of bed in the mornings. I just need to scale it up a bit.

The key plank of this challenge is done.

I wrote a book which condenses and distils my experience, learnings and secrets of success over a 20-year career. I’m proud to announce that Have your cake and sell it too: the 7 key ingredients of business success is finally finished. And it’s a ripper.

It enables me to reach a lot more owners than I could without it, so I can have a significant impact on their profitability, business value and quality of life.

While the book has taken a year to complete, it’s actually been 20 years in the making – it distills the key insights and learnings (often the hard way) I’ve had in a career of advising business owners, and running and growing my own.

But the book will only get me part way. The thing I love most in the world is getting on stage in front of a room of like-minded growth-focused business owners. That way I can share my insights to many, get immediate feedback, and

One significant step in my #10kchallenge occurs on Tuesday 12 July when I host my business breakfast book launch. I’ll reveal my 7 key ingredients of business success, and attendees will walk away with some powerful tips and strategies (plus a healthy dose of inspiration) to make immediate and significant improvements to your business. (Plus a signed copy of my book.)

I guarantee this event will change the way you look at business… or your money back.

Join me at my book launch breakfast

Buy Have your cake and sell it too

So tell me – how are you making a difference?

Jason