How To Be Successful in Everything You Do
by Jimmy D. Brown
What if there were a *real* formula for success? Would you want it?Heck, you'd
buy it by the bottle, barrel or boatload, right?! I've found such a formula.
And you don't have to buy it,you just have to buy INTO it.
You see, success isn't about money. I know a lot of folks who earn the
big bucks, but are always left wanting something more. That isn't success.It's not
about fame. I know athletes and rock stars and prime ministers
who are still searching for fulfillment,even though they are household names.
And it has nothing to do with status or possessions or positions or any of
the things that television ads would have you believe it to be. You can have
all the "stuff" and be on the who's who list of celebrities and still never
find real success.
You see, those things are fleeting. They are here for a moment and can be gone
the next. Success is more lasting than anything that can ever be taken from you.
Understand that before I explain how to obtain it. Success isn't to be measured
by the dollar or the brand name or the neighborhood you live in. It isn't to be
evaluated by the number of times you've been elected PTA president or the college
you send your children to or the limit on your platinum card.
Success is quality of life. It is about enjoyment and fulfilment and contentment.
And you can get it even if you don't have a dime and no one knows your name and
your only notoriety is the fact that you screamed the loudest at a high
school football game when your third string tailback son finally got to play.
Success is quality of life. And here's how you get it...
1. Surround Yourself By Folks Who Build You Up.
One of the most important things you can every do
in life is to build relationships with people who love
you and care about you and want to nurture you as
you walk through life.
I'm talking about folks who are genuine. Those that
love you through the hard times and rejoice with you
through the successes and are painfully honest and
compassionately sympathetic. Folks who desire to
make you laugh and motivate you and encourage you
to be just the person you were designed to be.
Those folks who will take you to the next level by
their encouragement and support.
2. Learn To Be Content, But Not Complacent.
I remember the first $12.95 I earned online about two
years ago. My wife and I literally danced in my office.
I was so excited. Is $12.95 success? It was that day.
Why? Because I was completely content with what
I had.
It wasn't enough to buy a large pizza with. But it was
the start of a dream. It was a beginning point.
Confucius said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Life is full of steps. Just make sure you don't miss the
small successes in search of the end of the journey. Life
is in the details along the way. We all want to travel
the fast lanes of the interstates to get where we are headed
and we miss the small towns and friendly folks and hidden
treasures of the side roads in our haste.
It's important to learn to be content with wherever you are
in life, but don't be complacent. You want to be satisfied
with who you are and what you are -- but, remember, you
and your life are just works in progress. God isn't finished
with you yet.
3. Enjoy Every Moment As If It Were Your Last.
We miss so much along the way because we have our
eyes on some goal that we want to meet. Goals are good,
but so are milestones and guideposts along the way.
Take time to kiss your wife and kids. Say "I love you."
Visit with a neighbor. Take donuts to the staff at your
place of employment. Smile at the cashier at Wal-Mart when that annoying light is blinking on and off for a price check.
Go out into your backyard at night and just walk around
gazing at the stars and breathing in the night air. Enjoy
a round of golf with your best friend.
Enjoy life. The Bible says that it is only a vapor. Don't
miss out on the moments that make memories.
Enjoy every moment as if it were your last. Someday, it
will be.
4. Find Something To Look Forward To Every Day.
During a particularly difficult time in my life, the only thing
that seemed to get me through one day to the next, was
having that one thing I could look forward to.
Sometimes it was a corn dog at the local mall where there
was a young lady that I was attracted to. Other days it
was the thought that I had the weekend off. Still other days
it was a favorite movie that was going to be on television.
Savor something every single day. Anticipate it. It doesn't
have to be the jackpot. Sometimes the nickels and dimes
of life are worth more than a big payoff.
5. Spend Time Doing The Things That Matter Most.
We waste far too much time on things that bring little
enjoyment into our lives. It's time to take our lives back
and spend them doing the things that matter.
Build relationships. Mentor someone. Make memories.
Some things are more important than money and status
and power and prestige. Invest your time and effort into
those things and see if you don't categorize yourself
as successful.
6. Treat Stumbling Blocks As Stepping Stones.
So what if you lost that big account? So what if your
relationship failed? So what if you goofed up and made
one of the dumbest mistakes in the history of mankind.
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and keep going.
(If you surrounded yourself by the right folks, they'll do
it for you!)
What did you learn? How can this make you better or
stronger? What can you do differently next time? How
can you help others in the same situation?
Don't trip and fall -- step up and go to the next level.
One of the best things to ever happen to me was developing
a heart problem. I became completely sensitive and
compassionate to folks around me who were struggling
with various illnesses. In the past, I had overlooked them.
Now, I could support them and encourage them and help
them.
My heart problem became a blessing in that I was able
to sympathize with others. What a wonderful lesson to
learn.
7. Plant Seeds of Success In The Lives Of Others.
No one's going to care in 100 years if you made a six-figure
income or had your name listed in the yearbook, but it
will be important that you helped start that daycare or
raised your son to love people or spend time doing
mission work.
What is success if you can't pass it on to others, if
you can't share it with others, if you can't involve others
in it?
Take the time to get involved in the lives of those around
you. Do something for a stranger. Give of yourself.
It will enrich the lives of those you touch, and it will make
you a better person in the process.
I'll say it again -- success is quality of life.
When your life is reaching its close, you shouldn't fear
dying. You should only fear not having lived.
Be successful in everything you do.
………………………………………………………………….
© Copyright 2003 by Jimmy D. Brown. To learn more about how
to be successful, visit
http://www.123webmarketing.com
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