Am I a Success?
55Pool Picture
Last Sunday night my Dad called me in a panic. He had a job lined up for Monay to paint a pool deck and he couldn't find anyone to help him. He asked me if I would help him for a day or two.
I thought about it for a second and then said,"yes."
I showed up to the job around 7:30am on Monday. My dad wasn't there yet. I walked to the back to take a look at what was in store for the next few days. I was releieved to see that it was just some pressure washing and painting around a pool patio.
Since Dad wasn't there I was able to sit for a moment and enjoy the fresh morning air. While sitting there reflecting, I realized that it had been almost 2 years since I've done any construction work.
At that moment I asked myself, "Am I a success?"
It was only five years ago that I was employed as an electrician. I spent five days a week getting up at 5am every morning, figthing I-4 traffic, to get to a place that I really didn't like.
2 years before I quit my job as an electrician I bought one of those late night infomercial "No Money Down" home study courses. I got through the whole course in two weeks. Then....nothing.
The best thing that I learned was the idea of setting goals. This was a practice that I hadn't really implemented in my life. As my first goal I decided that I didn't want to have to work as an electrician anymore.
I wasn't really sure how I would make this happen, but this was the first step in breaking free from this job that I didn't like.
Over the next year I read as many real estate investing books as I could. I began attending seminars and studying investing strategies.
Around this time I experienced a life changing event. My mom passed away.
For the next 10 months I became very depressed. I didn't like my job before and now I couldn't stand it. Each day that passed left me feeling emptier.
I decided that I needed a change in May of 2004. I quit my job and took my realtor exam and passed it. This was the beginning of my new career. I couldn't beleive it. I had met the goal that I set almost 2 years earlier.
Next month marks the four year anniversary of that goal. Since then I have set many other goals and achieved them. Today I run my business on goals we set. There's no greater feeling than achieving the goals that you 've set for yourself.
Without goals, how will you ever know if you are succesful?
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Great Stuff, if you are asking me as the reader if you are a success I would have to say yes as far as I know. However, you would be asking the wrong person. The person that has the answer you are looking for is sometimes hard to reach. The person with the real answer always seems to be a bit allusive. While he may know the real answer to your question he may not always be willing to tell you the truth or he may not know the truth because he does not know to what he should be measuring your success to. You know who you must ask, you know that it is not me, it is not your wife, it is not your parents, and it is neither your friends nor your co workers. The one person that can answer your question “am I successful” is you! You can only answer that question if you have set your goals and set a time line for achieving them. Keep up the good work.
Neil,
Thanks so much for that response! That is exactly how I felt when I wrote it.
You did what most of us fail to do. You listened to that inner drive and acted on it! Fear robs and immobilizes so many of us from taking action, even if it benefits us. The exploring the unknown can be a frightening venture but staying put because of the unknown is much scarier. The alternative is much worse. Perhaps if we all thought about what may happen if we didn't move forward or altered our state of everyday reality, we would be motivated to take risks. Because in the end, the risk is not taking a risk. Bravo to you and your continued accomplishments.
The Yankees lost tonight. No world series for them this year and even though they won it last year, I am pretty sure they are wondering right now if they are a success. There are certain myths associated with success. It doesn't last forever. There will always be other challenges, new projects to work on and other people with the same drive, idea or desires as you.
Success last for a few seconds, but the feeling of victory stays with you always.
You outgrew the desire to be an electrician. Something in you forced you to seek out a new challenge, set goals and achieve them. By my definition that's success is the making. :-)
Jonathan...First of all let me get this out of the way....That picture!!!! Well, it's priceless, I had to look at it twice to make sure it was you! ;) Secondly, in my personal opinion, yes you are a success! You've set goals that are attainable, conquered them and moved on to the next challenge! I have a high degree of respects for you and what you do....and I'm so glad to be able to call you "friend"....
Hey Angie- thanks for checking this post out. I love the internet because it hold our history. This was my first post ever on the web and I can't believe how much I've learned and grown since then.
You know what's really funny about that picture Carol- I changed it only about 6 months ago. Thanks for the kind words- I'm happy to have you as a friend too!
Jonathan, you are a success because you make it happen. It's awesome watching you grow and meeting your goals. You have come a long way....
JBN 4 years ago
I like your article. Thanks for the link.