In 1995, when the first Jewish temple opened in Park City, Utah, I had the opportunity to counsel about six to eight kids a year through high school to get into college. And after meeting these kids, the first thing I would have to do is get rid of some of the stuff some other teachers taught them - that they can't do math well or write well, or that it's not realistic to think they can become president or cure cancer. I have continued this practice and to date have mentored dozens of students for admission into top universities.

But these young students still have energy, and it's infectious. I need their energy, their excitement - and I get it from my high school students who are really bright and talented and who haven't gotten slapped around. I want to teach them to deal with the slaps. I want them to rebel against rejection. By the time some of these kids reach 16 and 17, they become afraid to open their mouths and say they want to cure cancer or polio. I want to teach them they can do anything they want. It's up to them to go out and improve the world.

4. Notice what could be better and do something about it.

How many times do you get put on hold when you call a company's customer service line? I call the 1-800 number every morning because I want to stay close to the customer experience. If I see areas for improvement, I'll record all the information and give it to my directors. And if it doesn't change in a couple of months, I send letters to the directors saying we need to find the person in the company who got my letter three months ago and ask why the problem hasn't been fixed. America deserves no less. Companies become rich because they find a way to serve others better. And if someone at your company is not serving your customers, it hurts more than your company; it hurts America.

We can't be just consumers - we have to keep our eyes open and our entrepreneurial instincts honed. We have to take responsibility for making the world a better place. And when we do, we'll create our own opportunities.