There is no truly great person who is not fundamentally concerned about the needs of others. While it is important to focus on and work on improving ourselves, particularly developing positive qualities, our intellect, working hard to improve our place in life, so much of happiness, self-esteem and meaning comes from serving others.  In the end, life is not about "me".  It is about lifting, helping, serving and being attentive to the needs of others.  Something magical happens to our own problems, fears, trials and shortcomings...  they become smaller and feel less burdensome.  When we live outside ourselves we become a person of character (and coincidentally, more people like us).  Two stories of this kind of living are included:  Steve Young and Mother Theresa.  Every great person, famous or not, puts other people first and recognizes the seemingly ironic teaching by Jesus:  "whosoever would save his life will lost it, but whosoever loses his life for my sake will find it."