I’ve worked with plenty of people who know how to make money and certainly better than me. I’ve helped individuals and teams increase their income 100% in a matter of months. Not because I know how to run businesses well but because I help identify what success is how to achieve it in a functional, healthy way.
I share this but life is not about income. As a matter of fact, life isn’t even about success but that’s another story. My definition of success is quantified by these three things; overall happiness, living a life where ease is accessible and experienced and safety for ourselves and our families.
A common problem I see when people are trying to be “successful” is an unhealthy compromise when trying to scale. Many people solve the problem of making more money by working more…and more and more and more. Two things I see that are compromised when that happens are time with loved ones, friends and family goes away and not taking care of their physical health goes by the wayside. When work (money) is placed at a higher value than either of those things they are naturally deprioritized and a person does those things less and less.
If someone isn’t keeping their family and connections a priority they’re not creating a safe, nurturing environment for them. If someone isn’t taking care of their physical health it will eventually have negative side effects and become a liability. Are you seeing the pattern?
Working twelve hours a day or even more, up to fifteen hours a day isn’t my idea of a life of ease. I love hard work. I love making a difference and feeling productive. And…like on a plane when the oxygen masks come down from the ceiling, we have to secure our own safety first before we help anyone else. Otherwise, our priorities aren’t in harmony and we approach life and work from the wrong place.
So, the special sauce is in harmony of priorities. Each of us has our own, unique set of values and principals. Are you clear what yours are?