SUCCESS DEFINED

Thought for the day:

Far too often in today's society we gauge our success primarily on income levels.  While income is certainly important, I've learned over the last 2 decades that success is rarely based on that number printed on my W2 at the end of every year.  

I grew up primarily in a very low-income household where my parents were constantly stressed about how they were going to just pay the bills every month, and many times there wasn't enough money for gifts or material things during Christmas or birthdays.  However, this never really bothered me because my parents always instilled key values that I've continued to carry with me; integrity, respect, honesty, hard work, and punctuality to name a few.

As I've gone through the last 20 years, I've worked in multiple industries which include construction, retail, law enforcement, and sales - always with the goal in mind that each job was that proverbial "stepping stone" to my long-term career.  However, through those experiences I've also learned that the real world can sometimes be a ruthless and vengeful place, where goals get knocked down, dreams get crushed, and decisions get made that have made me feel as though I'll never truly hit that level of success I'm aiming for.  Throughout these experiences, I've come to realize that success is not solely defined by the money we make, but more-so by our satisfaction and overall happiness with what it is we're actually doing.  I can honestly say I love what it is I do today, but I also know that nothing in life is ever guaranteed - sometimes decisions are made that are out of your control which can often derail your path to what you once thought was your "success," and this can be an extremely tough life-lesson.  

If you're one that has hit a few of those bumps in the road as you're trying to navigate through life, know this - YOU, and only you, are going to define your own success, and the true determination of how successful you really are may often be based on how you overcome these obstacles.  Start every day off by telling yourself that regardless of what circumstances might come your way that may knock you off your path, you are stronger and more determined than any problem you'll ever face, and as a result, you'll become a stronger, happier person.  Keep your head high, stay confident in yourself and in your abilities, and don't ever let anyone define success for you - YOU AND ONLY YOU CAN DEFINE YOUR SUCCESS - so go get it!