Maxwell has written more than 30 books and has had a long career in public speaking, first as a pastor and then as a conference and seminar leader, helping people maximize their potential. He says that most of us spend far too much time exaggerating our past successes and failures and overestimating tomorrow, assuming things will get better without creating a strategy for making it better. That's why he says that today is the only day that really matters, for today determines the successes of tomorrow.

It all boils down to making good decisions, but determining what decisions to make is not always easy, so Maxwell has narrowed down the critical areas of success to 12 of what he calls the "Daily Dozen." They include such things as maintaining a positive attitude, sticking to priorities, following healthy guidelines, investing in good relationships, and managing finances. He has a chapter devoted to each discipline, with a short worksheet at the end to encourage you and assist you in your personal daily growth.