The single most important thing to know about success is that the journey matters at least as much as the destination, just like when you're taking a trip by car, plane, or boat to some special or exotic place. Just getting there is special, because you have a chance to spend a lot of time with friends or family
It took me many years to learn this secret.
The truth is, sometimes you have more fun going somewhere than when you're actually there. Not always -- sometimes when you get there, it's great too -- but the journey itself is usually part of the fun, if only because of the sense of anticipation. Later, you may realize that you're better off simply having made the trip. Success is a journey like that, and it's one that you should never, ever worry about. You'll have your ups and downs, but if you keep your eye on the prize and keep moving forward, great things will happen.
All the toys -- the big houses, the hot cars, the expensive boats -- are great, but what it really comes down to is who you are, what you want to accomplish, and whether or not you're having fun. I've known a lot of people who were poor and unhappy, but I've also known some unhappy multimillionaires. So you've got to put things in perspective. Realize that it's probably not how much money you make that will make you happy; it's how much you enjoy what you're doing.
People say to me, "You spend so much of your waking hours on business. Don't you have other activities you like? Are you a golfer? No. Do you take a lot of vacations? No. So it's business, business, business!" Well, you know something? When you love what you do, it's not just work; it's a combination of work and pleasure.
Most people in the world hate what they do for a living, but they feel they need to do it in order to survive and support their families. Most of us have been there at some point or another; some of us have permanently moved to that address. And the fact is, there are many people in business who are also very unhappy with their lives, even when their businesses are doing well. You don't want to be like that. You should be in business because you want to be in business. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose; but let's face it, it's the race, the chase, that's truly important.
If you can get that straight in your head, you're going to be a much happier person -- and eventually, a more successful person. Stay in the race. Keep thinking big. Stay curious, and always do the things you like to do as well as the things you don't like to do but need to do anyway. Every job has its unpleasant tasks that you nevertheless have to take ownership of.
If you have problems with this, learn how to fool yourself into thinking you enjoy doing some of those unwelcome tasks. In other words, fake it until you make it. If you can do that and keep a smile on your face, you'll be fine. As A.L. Williams, the insurance tycoon, once said: "Just keep moving forward. Things are going to work out. Remember, all you can do is all you can do -- but all you can do is enough."
It's not just about the money, or the houses, cars, and fiscal rewards you reap -- though that certainly matters, especially if you've been on both ends of the wealth scale like I have. Being rich beats poverty hands down. Still, the important thing is enjoying the journey, taking pleasure in what you do and in helping people. There's a reason why the wealthiest of us are the most charitable of us. Almost half of all the money given to charities in the U.S. comes from the wealthiest 1% of the people in the nation. These people love giving their money away -- even though they're held in contempt by many in government, looked down upon as nasty mongrels who are just out for themselves.
That's ironic and unfair, since even above and beyond their tax burden, they're the ones who do the most for society in so many ways -- simply because they can. They provide jobs; they provide for charities. So don't be envious of and bad-mouth the rich. Do your best to become one of them. Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart and realize that we're here to have fun, not just to make money.
Somehow, this notion escapes so many of us. Some of the most successful people in the world are jaded and unhappy, and end up killing themselves when it seems they have everything. You hear about people who are at the top of their game, at the height of their success, who are hopelessly depressed or abusing drugs or alcohol. Even though it seems they've achieved everything they could possibly want out of life, they're miserable.
Among other things, these stories prove that it's not just about getting to the top of the mountain. While it's great to be there, and it gives you plenty of opportunities to do things, ultimately the journey matters more. What you do along the way is often much more important than what you do once you reach your destination.
You'll have your peaks and valleys. Some things may not go your way; your businesses may fail, or simply not reach the goals you've set for them, or you may hit stumbling blocks that knock you down. The economy may take a downturn, forcing you to shift gears or retool. It's all grist for the experience mill, and if you can learn even the tiniest thing, then you're ahead of the game -- no matter how much it hurts at the time. The only true failure is the failure to learn. It's all about what you do, how you adapt, and the way you grow and shape yourself to fit your reality.
Even the most successful entrepreneurs have experienced huge failures; in fact, sometimes a failure at one thing forced them to succeed at something else. Sometimes the money comes pouring in faster than you can count it; sometimes you're selling aluminum cans and checking under the couch pillows for enough money to cover the electric bill. Those are just points on a line, though. So while we all want enough money to fill a swimming pool with hundred dollar bills, don't fool yourself into thinking that's all that matters. There are too many examples of people who found that they had achieved everything they were looking for -- and it just wasn't enough. So make the pleasure of being in business for yourself one of your goals.
You're a breed apart; you already know that. Most people look at entrepreneurs and think, "How could you possibly be happy? You spend all your time working on your business. You're never on the golf course, and I never see you at the fishing hole anymore. You're never able to go skiing with us." The fact is that most of the people thinking these things are so unhappy with their day-to-day jobs that they have to escape in order to find some pleasure in life. They can't just enjoy their days like I do. When you're truly doing what you love, you find pleasure in your work life.
Part of this is sheer attitude. You've got to learn to love even your unlovable "babies;" by doing so you can get those tasks done so you can go on vacation whenever you want. But you don't have to leave town to escape the pain in your daily life. You don't have to go on vacation to find happiness, because every day is like a vacation. You like doing the things you're doing, so you don't have to seek pleasure elsewhere.
In our culture, there's significant resistance to the idea that people can possibly enjoy their businesses that much. Yet consider this: many people spend hour after hour, year after year, working on their hobbies. They're totally absorbed by them, and often they get so good at a hobby that everyone commends their artistry. Or perhaps someone is a talented painter or musician. Well, most people have no problem with those people committing large blocks of their lives to those pursuits. But if you're committed to business -- heaven forbid! You're a workaholic, a freak, or a greedy scumbag.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your work and making money at it. Business is our blank canvas. We are cash flow artists creating with ideas, learning daily from our experiences on the paths we tread. You've got to fall in love with the game to truly succeed.
