In today’s ultra-materialistic society, the size of your house and your stock portfolio seem to be considered the true measures of success. Ambition is good, and like most of you I wish my stock portfolio was a bit larger than it currently is. But there is so much more to being a “success” in life. I hope the following story will bring a new perspective on what it means to be successful:
Many years ago I had a client who ran a thriving business. He used the profits from his business to purchase large plots of land. My client had an eye for good land, and he eventually made his fortune by selling these properties to developers. None of his financial success changed the way he lived his life or his blue collar values of hard work and supporting his family. In fact he made a pact with all his grandchildren that he would pay college tuition for all of them to any school to which they were accepted. He would eventually put 18 grandchildren through college, with many of them graduating from the finest schools in the country. Armed with their prestigious degrees and the blue-collar work ethic learned from long, hot summers working at their granddad’s company, many of them went on to great success in their own careers.
One of Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is to “begin with the end in mind.” He recommends picturing yourself looking down on your own funeral. Who would be there, and what would they say about you?
At my client’s funeral I’m told that it was standing-room only in a large church, without a dry eye in the place. The service seemed to go on for ever as people young and old remembered this wonderful man and the things he had done for them.
In the end, his “net worth” was far greater than the value of the money he earned and the things he owned.
Have a great weekend,
Ro