Success! I Want More!
Happy Thoughtful Thursday to you! Here is my question/thought for the day:
Are successful people really more talented and gifted than the next guy? Or are they:
• Bigger risk takers and able to recover from failure better?
• More dedicated with endless perseverance?
• At the right place, at the right time, talking to the right people, about the right thing?
• More blessed and highly favored of God?
• Luckier? (btw: I don’t believe in luck but this one is for those of you who do)
• A harder worker with a clearer focus, a deeper drive and a more relentless determination to reach their goal?
• A nicer person that karma is rewarding?
• A more generous person?
(I know two of these sound the same but determination doesn’t always equate to dedication so…)
I know there are more scenarios I could add as to why one person succeeds and one doesn’t. Let me ask you this:
• Have you ever been at a family gathering and heard your cousin clear his throat and belt out a song in perfect tune, tone, rhythm and melody and wonder why he didn’t make it and Bo Bice did?
• Have you ever heard a man preach in an “out of the way”, tiny strip mall, store front in Montgomery, AL (to about 20 people) and you shake your head because his method, message and charisma are off the Richter scale and you wonder why he is there and not in the ranks of TD Jake and Joel Osteen?
• Have you ever seen a young man that can buy two cars by age 19 and maintain his life financially by buying and selling on Ebay and wonder why the Google idea didn’t come to him first or entrepreneur-ness hasn’t completely caught hold of him?
• Have you ever wondered how one person’s bachelor’s degree yields them a career at one level, and the same or lower degree yields another person a career where the sky is the limit?
• Better yet, how do you settle within yourself, someone making more money, without a degree and a “walk in off the street” job, than you are making with a degree and the student loans to go with it?
• Have you ever wondered how one person could raise their children without God in their life and those children grow up to be great contributors to society with wonderful careers; while other children have low aspirations, teeter between jail, prison, trouble, multiple babies mammas, more jobs than you can count, etc. but they grew up knowing God?
Why does life seem so unfair or should I say, why is life unfair? Why do so many never realize their dreams and achieve their goals? But even more importantly, why do so many never reach their full potential? Is it pure laziness? Is it misguidance? Is it ignorance? Is it a lack of intelligence? Is it not being in the right place at the right time? And I know, some people are satisfied and content with life “as is”. They just live. They wake up in the morning. Go to work. Come home. Pay bills. Eat dinner and they are happy. But what about the one that wants so much more but can’t catch a break? What about the one whose whole life has consisted of (forward) baby steps and some successes, but knows there is so much more to be had and sees others so far ahead of them?
I trust and believe; you reap what you sow, what goes around comes around, hard work pays off, etc. and I truly believe; all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28. But when in life do you say, where do I go from here and what do I do to unlock MY greatest God promised success and potential?
Holla back.
(For those who haven’t read the comments below, you won’t understand this picture. Please read the comments and you’ll understand!)
This is an interesting topic. I think the first thing one needs to do is define what success means to them. Is it the amount of money you make? Is it the material things? Is it the big house, nice cars, huge closet with tons of clothes and shoes? It all depends. See, to some people, success is being able to do the things you love to do REGARDLESS if you get paid a lot of money or have a lot of things to show for it. The house, car, clothes, etc. is just an added bonus. Does that make sense?
I think when someone chases after success and/or money, it’ll always be elusive to them. I think when someone compares what they have to what others have, that person will always be trying to get what the other person has, but at a cost. I think it’s easy to judge a person from the outside, looking in — that’s why it’s done so much. Most successful people will tell you what they’ve done to become successful. You just gotta ask – if you know them. But here’s the key: if what you’re trying to get is not what God has ordained for you, you will be chasing the wind, so to speak. Does that make sense?
I honestly believe what’s meant for you is meant for you. No one will ever be able to block that blessing that’s meant especially for you, you know what I mean? Obstacles may be placed in your path, but you’ll still get the blessing. Which is why I’ve learned to not look at or think about what somebody has or does or does not do. You ask is it because they are more blessed and highly favored by God? Hmmmmm, I think God gives favor but he doesn’t show favoritism. So, just like that person has been blessed in a certain area of their life, another person is blessed just the same, but in a different way. I think it boils down to how you react to another person’s blessing. If they’re doing great – wonderful. Congratulate them and be happy for them. If they’re not in a place they want to be, give them encouragement.
I personally don’t think a person should ever wonder why someone is blessed over another person. I think when you do that, you put yourself in the position of “judging” a person based on your standards, and I believe that’s treading waters you really shouldn’t go in to. Does that make sense?
Once again, good topic.
.-= Kim Sawyer´s last blog ..Ever Wish You Could Start Over? =-.
That’s pretty loaded. I’m a firm believer that the combination of hard work, education, who you know, drive (hunger)and flexibility all topped off with working the word in your life are strong components toward making you successful. You also must have a specific dream (goal), as opposed to just saying I want to be successful or rich. Once you know that, get together a plan toward making it happen. Surround yourself with positive people that will help you toward your goal. You must also be a positive thinker and maintain a marketable self-image. Take advantage of as many networking opportunities as you can to get yourself out there. Tools like Facebook and Business Link are very valuable in the job market today. Those are all elements that can make it happen, but the interpretation of success is not the same for all people. One other key for even the smallest of goals is the necessity of being able to manage your money well. If you can’t do that, then seek professional help with it. Otherwise, what success you do get will not be long lasting.
Sup, lol about seeking professional help. I agree with everything you said.
Kim, I agree with you in theory and I believe that theory is easier to swallow by successful people than non successful people. Regardless of how anyone sees success, I think it is a very small population of folks who are able to say success is being able to do the things you love to do REGARDLESS if you get paid a lot of money or have a lot of things to show for it. And again, I think it is successful people who will say it vs. non-successful people. I LOVE to rest but I can’t rest and make a living! I love to work in my yard and play spades and… Uh oh, you got me! I have to delete most of my response because you got me! I love to work in my yard and when I won yard of the quarter in my neighbor, I felt very successful! The only thing I got was a sign in my yard and $50.00. It wasn’t a lot of money but boy, was my chest stuck out and did I feel successful! So….. you are right.
*If anyone wants to see a picture of my winning yard with the sign in it, I’d be happy to share!
I do still have more to say, but for now, I will bask in the thought of the success of my winning yard last summer….
I know, I know. The first instinct is to disagree with what I said, but then you start to realize it’s true.
Also, here’s why doing what you love to do will always bring you success: If you love what you’re doing, you’re going to work hard at it not matter what and it won’t feel like work! Thus, you’re putting your all into it (e.g. education, time, devotion, etc.) and you don’t care how many hours you spend at it. Or how you’re networking without realizing you’re networking. Does that make sense? So, at the end of the day, all of the time, devotion, education, networking etc. pays off monetarily and you don’t even realize it until you look at it from the veiwpoint of people who just see the things you have, but not how you’ve put in a lot of work to get where you are.
.-= Kim Sawyer´s last blog ..Ever Wish You Could Start Over? =-.
Let’s see the pictures!
Gosh, that was a good one that crept up on me! My yard that is. I spent hundreds of dollars on my yard. I gave it so much TLC. I worked at in the morning, in the afternoon, in the heat of the day, in the cool of the evening, any time and basically everyday! I was shocked when I won yard of the quarter but more importantly, I didn’t do it to win, I did it to make myself happy! It really was therapy and a deep deep love. In the end my reward was a beautiful yard and the satisfaction of seeing my work come to fruition. What a success!
Hold on Sup.
Very nice! I know it takes lots of work to get it that way and keep it. Hopefully for you, your plants will grow back next year instead of having to keep paying for new plants each year. Not to mention the re-planting.
Very true success! It’s a calling God has for you. Each and everyone of us has a particular calling that’s on our life, and in our lives. At least it doesn’t put you in debt so strongly like people you know or I know. You are not over your credit cards limit, you don’t stress out owing. So success is great for you and there’s more to come. So at the end your reward was having a beautiful yard and satisfication of true success, not trying to “keep up with the Joneses. And finally at the true end of success, what’s more important- pleasing God getting into Heaven or having success paying a lot of debt and bragging or being prideful about it!
I WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE WHY AND WHY NOTS OR THE HAVE AND DON’T HAVE. I WILL SAY YOUR YARD IS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE A NICE YARD I WORK VERY HARD AT MINE ALSO. MY NIEGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET TOLD ME I WAS A ONE MAN TEAM AND IT MADE ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORS WORK SO HARD TO KEEP UP BUT IT IS JUST SOMETHING I LIKE TO DO, NOT TRYING TO OUT DO ANYONE.
.-= delores goodson´s last blog ..‘Dancing’ Reveals Biggest Cast Ever =-.