“When you saw me in the boxing ring fighting, it wasn’t just so I could beat my opponent. My fighting had a purpose. I had to be successful in order to get people to listen to the things I had to say.” – MUHAMMAD ALI, The Soul of a Butterfly

I recently watched a video – click here to watch now – of Muhammad Ali (at age 35) speaking to a large audience (comprising adults and kids). A young boy asked him “What will you do when you retire?” Ali’s answer proved his boxing genius was matched by an acute sense of “life purpose”.

Basically, Ali told the young mane and the listening audience how he’d emerged from deep reflection to realize that after he retired from boxing, the best way to spend his time would be helping others.

Now, he did not just state it simply in a few words. Ali – always a man who practiced what he preached – took the audience on what I would call an intellectual journey of self-discovery. Especially as it relates to finding one’s purpose in line with the creator’s will.

In order to prepare their minds, Ali started by asking if there were people in the audience who believed in God. Then he asked to see the hands of any who did NOT believe there was a God. In both cases there were hands raised.

To one of those closest to him amongst the latter group, Ali then used the analogy of how the different parts of the world came into existence.

But before that he took asked if man made objects we use daily – like cups etc – could have made themselves. The answer was no.

Following upon that, he then asked if those who claimed not to believe in God could explain how such well planned collection of parts that make up the earth came into being.

Ali went on to conclude that the amazing complexity of the earth itself provided ample proof that a superior and supreme form on intelligence, well above ours, was at work.

So, for him, he said that was why he was convinced of God’s existence.

And as a result, he knew there had to be a purpose for which God had made him. Ali added that if Hell – where those who fail to do God’s will are said to be sent – existed, he would rather work to NOT go there after he dies.

In order to achieve that goal of making heaven, Ali said he had thought of the active years in his life outside those spent sleeping etc – and decided he would use his fame and success to help others e.g. by partnering with NGOs and other support groups.

AND THAT, he said was what he would do after he retired from boxing.

What Amazing Foresight from a Man of Real Vision!

Today, everybody knows that Ali has kept his word with regard to what he said on that day. Several decades ago as a young man.

And his fame has not waned up till now. Neither has the respect and admiration AND love he enjoys from people across the world diminished. This is one man with the rare ability to make people forget their differences. The Muhammad Ali Centre continues to carry on the Ali legacy of helping those who need it.

And Ali remains a central figure – even now in his old age, and despite the health challenge he has had to deal with.

His words spoken over the past decades that get shared on the wall of his Facebook page continue to inspire millions across the world. I, for one continue to draw MASSIVE inspiration from this man’s words that I read as a fan on his page.

Each of Us Needs to Emulate Ali – By Choosing to Start Something We Won’t Need to Retire From

Ali did that. He looked beyond his vocation, to carve out a vision – and a mission from the vision.

He had a message for the world, and he was determined to share that message. But he knew the world would not easily pay attention to a person who was not NOTEWORTHY. So, he let that need to make them LISTEN to him drive his boxing efforts.

That led him to explore all sorts of creative ways to draw attention to himself while boxing.

For example, Ali’s habit of using rhyming poems to communicate – especially to opponents – was unique. Till date, no other boxer has succeeded in doing what he did so well.

As a result, even when he was not boxing, he remained in demand.

People wanted not just to SEE him. They also wanted to hear him speak. To know what he thought about issues affecting them. Even to know what his stand was.

Evidence that Ali’s thinking was as described above can be found in material he shares from his archives even today.

For instance, not long ago, he shared a photo of himself, with a quote that helped me better understand why he chose to adopt such a boldly vocal approach to his own brand of boxing.

When you saw me in the boxing ring fighting, it wasn’t just so I could beat my opponent. My fighting had a purpose. I had to be successful in order to get people to listen to the things I had to say. – MUHAMMAD ALI, The Soul of a Butterfly [Click here for source]

Each of us can do what Ali did i.e Use your VISION for the future, to drive yourself to EXCEL at what you do NOW!

No matter what it is. Think of how you can link what you succeed at today, to what you can do well into your later years that can make the lives of others better.

That desire to achieve your long term vision will help you do what it takes to excel in your more immediate pursuits.

Then later on, you will find that the platform of success you arrive on in future, will make it easy to carry on with your bigger vision/mission right into your old age.

That’s why Ali’s impact continues to be felt even today – LONG after he retired from boxing. Each one of us can make our impact felt the same way too – if we emulate the great Muhammad Ali!

“I try not to speak about all the charities I help, because I believe we can only be truly generous when we expect nothing in return.” – Muhammad Ali