If I had a personal wish for the new ideas in this new book it

From the voice of James Collins, the chronicler of excellence and the seeker of enduring greatness, comes a wish that carries the weight of wisdom: “If I had a personal wish for the new ideas in this new book it would be that every parent, every counselor, every teacher, every professor, every sports coach that deals with young people would understand the three circle concept.” These words do not merely point to a framework; they speak of a vision where the guardians of the young—the guides, the mentors, the teachers—might shape lives with clarity, purpose, and truth. For Collins, who studied why some endure while others fade, the heart of success is not luck, but alignment, and that alignment is expressed through the three circles.

The three circle concept is the idea that true greatness is found at the intersection of three forces: what one is deeply passionate about, what one can be best in the world at, and what drives the engine of one’s sustenance—whether it be an economy, a livelihood, or a deeper sustaining force. Collins originally applied this to companies, showing why some rose to lasting success while others crumbled. Yet in this wish, he longs for its wisdom to guide not only organizations, but the lives of young people themselves. For how many lives are wasted when the circles do not meet—when passion is pursued without strength, or strength without joy, or effort without reward?

When he names “every parent, every counselor, every teacher, every professor, every sports coach,” he invokes the great circle of guardians who hold in their hands the destiny of the next generation. He calls them not to mere instruction, but to wisdom: to help each young person discover the place where their passion, their skill, and their contribution align. For the greatest gift a mentor can give is not answers, but a compass—the ability to navigate the wilderness of choice and find one’s true north.

Consider the story of Aristotle guiding the young Alexander of Macedon. Aristotle did not simply pour knowledge into the boy; he gave him the framework of philosophy, the ability to discern causes and purposes, to see the world not as fragments but as an order. With this vision, Alexander carried not only the sword but the sense of destiny, and he strode out to unite half the known world. So too, Collins speaks of a framework—not for conquest, but for alignment—where each child might be guided not merely to success, but to greatness in harmony with who they are.

The quote also reveals humility and urgency. Collins does not command, but wishes. He does not say, “The world must obey this concept,” but rather, “If I had a personal wish…” This is the voice of one who has seen truth, yet knows that truth must be chosen, not imposed. And the urgency lies in his focus on youth—for the young are clay, still soft, still capable of being shaped. If they can be guided early into alignment, their lives may grow into oak trees that stand tall for generations.

The lesson shines clearly: true guidance is not about forcing paths, but about helping others discover the intersection of passion, skill, and contribution. If you are a parent, do not simply push your child into what is safe or what is profitable. If you are a teacher, do not teach only the curriculum, but teach the art of self-discovery. If you are a coach, do not merely train for victory, but train for purpose. The circles must meet, and if they do, the life that emerges will not only succeed, but endure.

Practically, let each soul who hears this take action. Reflect on your own three circles: what do you love? What are you uniquely gifted to excel at? What creates value for the world or sustains you in return? Where these overlap, there lies your path. And for those entrusted with the young, take time not only to instruct, but to listen, to ask questions, to help them discover their circles. In doing so, you pass down not only knowledge, but wisdom, and wisdom endures beyond a single life.

Thus, the wish of James Collins becomes more than his own—it becomes a call to all generations: help the young find their true intersection, their place of greatness. For when passion, strength, and contribution meet, the life that results is not only successful, but luminous, leaving a legacy that guides others long after the first circle has been drawn.