The powerhouses of this world are ordinary people who are extraordinarily motivated. The level of motivation, above anything else, determines the heights one can hope to reach. Motivation is the fuel of achievement. It is the essence of greatness. With enough motivation, almost anything is possible.

The sources of motivation are many and varied. People may be motivated by fear, by greed, by the desire to achieve and excel and it can be done by taking specialized seminars on the subject or reading books, viewing videos or listening to tapes or CDs.

Each of these sources of motivation have their merits but they are all dwarfed by the ultimate motivator which is having a sense of personal destiny. That is, having the fundamental belief that we were personally placed on Planet Earth with an ultimate mission and to achieve a specific objective.

That belief has been consciously or unconsciously held by most of the greats of this world. It has been the motivating source behind the greatest breakthroughs and innovations for humanity as it has spawned the greatest tragedies and worst catastrophes.

There is no denying that a man with a mission becomes a powerhouse. That person does not have to push, he is driven. He rises above life's petty dramas and will not be hindered by every day's trivialities. He is above and beyond that.

Now it is noted that we are talking about a "sense" of destiny here. It's a bit like talking about the "sense" of being "invincible" that a person may experience at times. We are not talking about being delusional or being mentally disturbed. The sense of destiny lies in the grey area where fantasy meets reality.

That area may not appeal to the timid soul. It's a land that can only be found on the mountain tops of the world of thoughts. Only the hardiest will venture there because it goes against the grains of popular conceptions. It's a place blessed with greatness that can only be reached by those who have the courage to think outside of the box and dare to venture in that terra incognita that leads to innovation and great achievements.

To create what has never been done before, one has to leave the beaten path and travel the uncharted roads. Ordinary thinking produces ordinary results. Only by stepping out of the usual boundaries will the pilgrims of the mind manifest the innovative and great breakthroughs that will advance mankind and bring laurels to its creator.

The person who can acquire a sense of destiny does not need other source of motivation. He is permeated with the need to perform. It becomes his lifeblood. The ultimate reason for his existence.

A sense of destiny and the cause that it entails are self-anointed. As the creator of our own reality it is in our power to do so. If a person truly decides the he or she was placed on Planet Earth to eradicate hunger in the world and that is what his or her manifest destiny is - so be it. That will be a fact in that person's reality and that is the impulse that will be responded to.

We were all born to be great. A few respond to that call. They become the pillar upon witch humanity advance and grow. They become the people that we read about, that we respect and admire. It does take courage to respond to the call of greatness as it does to say yes to life.

Vince Lombardi said, "Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can." These words have inspired millions to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Add that fundamental axiom to a sense of destiny and see marvels unfold.

Dr. Raymond Comeau aka Shamou is the Author of ShamouBlog http://shamoublog.com/ and Administrator of Personal Development for Personal Success Forums.