Charlie Harary On Unlocking Greatness

Renowned business strategist and bestselling author Charlie Harary joined Chazaq Torah Talks to delve deep into the mindset, meaning, and mission behind true greatness. Known for his transformative lectures and his bestselling book Unlocking Greatness, Harary has inspired tens of thousands with his ability to blend Torah values with personal development. In this unforgettable conversation, he sat down with Rabbi Yaniv Meirov to share stories, insights, and a roadmap to real inner growth.

Drawing from Michtav MeEliyahu, Harary began with a football field analogy to illustrate how every person’s moment of greatness happens in their own zone — based on the unique challenges Hashem places before them. “Moshe Rabbeinu reached his greatness. So did Avraham, Rivkah, and Rochel. But Hashem doesn’t want you to become Moshe. He wants you to become you.”

 

The Myth of Background and the Power of Choice

Many people believe greatness is reserved for those with yichut or privileged upbringings. Harary passionately refuted this. “Rebbi Akiva came from converts. Avraham Avinu’s father was an idol worshipper. Even Yaakov Avinu had a twin brother named Eisav,” he said. “Our greatest leaders often came from the most unlikely places.”

Harary added a personal anecdote: “Someone once asked me how to find their yichut. I told them: ‘Simple — Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. You’ve got the best yichus in the world.’ We all come from greatness. Our job is to live up to it.”

 

Never Too Late, Never Too Early

Harary shattered the myth that people need to start young or that it’s too late to grow later in life. “Avraham began his mission at 75. Moshe led the Jewish people out of Egypt at 80. Greatness is not a race. It’s a response.”

He encouraged listeners to stop wasting energy on what they can’t control — like age or circumstance — and focus instead on the next right move. “Can you be great for five minutes? An hour? Just today? That’s all Hashem wants. One strong decision. And then another.”

 

The Greatest Muscle: The Mind

From years of research and personal encounters, Harary revealed the common denominator among people who achieve greatness: mental discipline. “Great people protect their minds like the IDF protects Israel’s borders. They don’t waste time on gossip or hours watching someone else’s success. They invest in their daas, in their thoughts, in their emunah.”

He added, “The soul wants to expand. The body wants to survive. The soul feels joy when it gives. When you help someone, you grow.”

 

Helping Others is Helping Yourself

In his signature passionate tone, Harary shared how aiding others on their journey to greatness enhances our own. “True gedolim care more. Their greatness comes not just from scholarship but from empathy — they feel your pain and your joy. That’s real gadlus.”

Referencing the halachah that allows someone who already made Kiddush to make it again for someone who hasn’t, Harary said, “That’s Torah telling you: if your friend hasn’t fulfilled their chiyuv, then you haven’t either.”

 

Dream Big, Dream Awake

As the conversation closed, Harary reflected on the Panovizher Rav’s famous line: “I’m dreaming — but I’m not asleep.” It was a plea to the Jewish people to lift their heads from the muck of daily survival and remember who they are.

 

“Let’s dream of a world where

is safe. Where every Jew is cared for. Where Torah flourishes in every community. Stop playing small. Hashem placed your soul in this generation — the fourth quarter of Jewish history — for a reason.”

His final words were filled with hope, fire, and faith:

“Think big. Dream big. It’s time.”

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Rabbi Yaniv Meirov is the CEO of Chazaq and the host of Chazaq Torah Talks, a popular weekly podcast that has featured some of the most influential voices in Jewish education, leadership, and inspiration. As Chazaq Torah Talks recently aired its 205th episode with political activist and businessman Mr. Leon Goldenberg, Rabbi Meirov continues to uplift audiences with meaningful conversations that bridge tradition and contemporary life.