No Success Without Sacrifice

I recently became aware of a great Blog in which Bruce Johnson shares letters containing life principles and lessons with his two daughters. I have been sending these to my two daughters each time he posts a new one.

Late last week, he had this to say about sacrifice and hard work:

As I’ve mentioned before, most people like the idea of being better or being more successful or being fit or being happy or being in a great relationship—but yet they don’t really want those things—despite what they might say. Why do I say that? Because they’re not willing to do what’s necessary to obtain the very thing they say they want.

I’m sure you’ve observed this phenomenon among your peers. You probably have friends who’ve told you that they’d like to get good grades, yet they’re not willing to do the hard work necessary to get good grades. Instead they continue to play and party all day and night with their friends. Or you probably have friends who say they’d like to get healthy and in shape, yet they aren’t willing to change their eating habits or get up early to go to the gym. So do they really want to be healthy and fit? I don’t think so.

If you really want something—and it’s more than just a “like to have” or “sounds like a good idea” kind of thing—then you’re going to have to avoid doing what most people choose to do—and instead make some sacrifices. Why? Because there is no success without sacrifice.

The American ideal of, “You can have it all!” is a flat out lie. No one can have it all. In order to obtain anything worthwhile in life, you have to make sacrifices. You have to give up something NOW in order to obtain something that you perceive to be better LATER. It’s always been that way and it always will be. Remember, first you make your choices, then your choices make you.

1. If you’d like to be healthy and fit, then you have to be willing to say, “No!” to most of the food choices put in front of you. And you’re going to have to give up some other activities (which could include some sleep) in order to get some exercise in. No one gets healthy and fit by eating whatever they want and not exercising. Sacrifices have to be made. Why? Because there is no success without sacrifice.

2. If you want to be a successful employee, then you have to be willing to do some of the things most employees won’t. You’ll have to sacrifice some of “your time” so you can do work before or after the hours you’re required to work. You’ll have to read more or take more courses. You’ll have to say, “No!” to getting together with friends from time to time in order to get a project done or to volunteer for an extra assignment or to make sure you get to bed on time so you can be fully engaged at work the next day. Why? Because there is no success without sacrifice.

3. If you’d like to be in a great relationship with a guy (yeah, I know, I can’t believe I just wrote that either :-), then you have to be willing to make some sacrifices. One of the things we clearly learn from Jesus’ example is that love is all about sacrifice. Love is not about convenience (a mistake too many people make). Love is about putting someone else’s needs above your own. Note: don’t read anything more into that statement than is intended. Your needs still matter and you shouldn’t be in a relationship with a guy who doesn’t get this principle. Love is a two-way street full of mutual love and sacrifice. And hopefully, your mother and I have modeled that well for the two of you.

4. Finally, if you’d like to change anything in your life that you don’t like, then just realize that you’re going to have to make some sacrifices. The bottom line is this—if you could be different just by wishing you were different, then you’d already be different. But you’re not, because you can’t just wish to be different. If you want to be different, you have to give up some of the things you’re currently doing, in order to get something better in the future. It’s always been that way, and always will be.

If you want to succeed at anything in life–and I don’t care if it’s playing the piano or starting a business or getting straight A’s or winning a tennis tournament or being a great parent someday–never forget the title of this post. Make it one of your mantras. Write it on a bunch of stickies and place them around your home and workplace. Why? Because there is no success without sacrifice! Period.

P.S. And as Zig Ziglar likes to say, “You don’t really pay the price, you get to enjoy the price.”

Definition of Success

I was asked way back in October, I think, by a friend of mine if I would come and speak to a group of business leaders. My friend owns a very successful business and he decided that he would gather business leaders together to hear speakers who can speak on different business topics. He felt this would encourage the community and could possibly even help his business. The first three of his get-togethers have been very successful with about 50 leaders at each event.

This morning was my turn to speak and I had been looking forward to it as this is something I really enjoy doing. When I woke up this morning I saw there was around an inch of fresh snow on the ground and it was very windy outside. I didn't think much of it though.

When I arrived, it became apparent that the blustery weather was keeping people home. By the name badges that were prepared, it looked like there was over 50 people registered. Yet, only a fraction of that showed, probably 15-20 people.

From my perspective, it appeared that the morning went very well. It seemed like everyone was engaged and having fun and I believe they all took something from our time together. In addition, many gave me some very nice feedback which is always nice.

On my way back to my office I was reflecting on my morning I received a revelation of sorts. Typically, I would have been quite discouraged that so few people showed up to hear me speak. I would have viewed the event as a failure. Today was different. I believe God is trying to teach me to change my definition of success. He wants me to just do my part and leave the results up to Him.

I have not "arrived" by any means, but for today I am trusting Him that the people that He wanted there were there. I am viewing the morning as a success. Thank you Lord!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Success

On Monday I posted about some nuggets John Maxwell shared with us last week while he was in Toledo. One of them was his definition of success. He said that, to him, success was "that those who know me the best, respect me the most."

I thought that was very good. In today's day and age, success is typically defined by the house you live, the car you drive or how much money you make. What Maxwell is saying is that you might have all these things, but if your family and close friends don't respect you or even know you, are you really a success? I think not.

Although I agree with this, why is it that I often find myself striving for the world's definition of success? Why do I not simply abide in Christ and step off the treadmill for a little while? Thankfully, this is something God is really working on in me. I'm not where I want to be but I am so thankful I am not where I used to be!

If you want to see a neat 3 minute video on success, click here and then click on the link that says, "Watch the DVD movie."

Click

I am not usually a huge fan of Adam Sandler movies; however, yesterday afternoon I watched Click with my wife. It was an incredible movie with a great message--I highly recommend it, especially if you are one who possibly works too hard at times.

In the film, Sandler plays a work-aholic architect who is climbing the ladder of success...only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall. He finds a universal remote control which allows him to fast forward through his life to get to the "good stuff" (his promotions, etc...). However, what he discovered is that by doing this he missed out on the truly important stuff.

This message hit home with me as God is really working on me in this area of work and life balance. I sometimes have a tendency to take things into my own hands and to try to "make" them happen rather than doing my best and leaving the results to God. I tend to have an "outcome based" definition of success.

God is showing me that success has nothing to do with outcomes. Success is just being in His presence.