Once again, I am grateful for a wonderful team of professionals who help me put this book together for you. Leading them is my publisher, Rolf Zettersten, at FaithWords/Hachette, and Hachette Chairman and CEO Michael Pietsch, along with Patsy Jones and Laura Wheeler.
I am grateful also to my literary agents Shannon Marven and Jan Miller Rich at Dupree Miller & Associates, and especially Wes Smith, the wordsmith who helps keep my message clear.
In this book I offer many stories shared with me by friends, members of our congregation, and people Ive met around the world. I appreciate and acknowledge their contributions and support. Some of those mentioned in the book are people I have not met personally, and, in a few cases, weve changed the names to protect the privacy of individuals. I give honor to all of those to whom honor is due. As the son of a church leader and a pastor myself, Ive listened to countless sermons and presentations, so in some cases I cant remember the exact source of a story. Thanks to all who have touched my life with their own. My intention in writing this book is to pass on the blessings, and to God be the glory.
I am indebted to the amazing staff of Lakewood Church, the wonderful members of Lakewood who share their stories with me, and those around the world who generously support our ministry and make it possible to bring hope to a world in need. I am grateful to all of those around the globe who follow our services on television, the Internet, and through the podcasts. You are all part of our Lakewood family.
I offer special thanks also to all the pastors across the country who are members of our Champions Network.
And last but not least, thanks to my wife, Victoria, and our children, Jonathan and Alexandra, who are my sources of daily inspiration, as well as to our closest family members who serve as day-to-day leaders of our ministry, including my brother, Paul, and his wife, Jennifer; my sister, Lisa, and her husband, Kevin; and my brother-in-law, Don, and his wife, Jackelyn.
T here is a winner in you. You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to leave your mark on this generation. You have greatness in you. The key is to get it out.
In this book, Ive created eight principles that will help you reach your potential so that you can become all you were created to be. Ive seen them work in my own life and in the lives of many others.
Too often we talk ourselves out of Gods best. We allow doubts, fears, and discouraging things people have said to limit us and convince us to settle where we are. Negative voices always speak the loudest.
Thats why Ive titled this book, You Can, You Will. You have what it takes to win. Youre talented enough. Youre smart enough. Youre experienced enough. You have the right personality and the right looks. Youre the right nationality. You didnt get shortchanged. Youre not lacking. Youre fully equipped. Youre the man or woman for the job.
This is your time. This is your moment. Put your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. Walk with confidence. Winning is in your DNA, and its about to come out in a greater way. You may have had some victories in the past, but you havent seen anything yet.
As you put these principles into action, you will step into a new level of your destiny. You will discover talents you didnt know you had, and you will see Gods blessing and favor in amazing ways.
Get ready! You can, you will!
A young man dreamed of being an actor, but in the early 1980s, he wasnt getting the big parts he wanted. Broke and discouraged, he drove his beat-up old car to the top of a hill overlooking the city of Los Angeles and did something unusual. He wrote himself a check for ten million dollars for Acting services rendered.
This young man had grown up so poor his family lived in a Volkswagen van at one time. He put that check in his wallet and kept it there. When things got tough, hed pull it out and look at it to remind himself of his dream.
A dozen years later, that same young man, the comedian Jim Carrey, was making fifteen million to twenty-five million a movie.