The
ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression
of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not
a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression
of life in my opinion, and that is living a good life. Here's what we must
ask constantly, What for me would be a good life? And
you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such
as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation.
What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.
1)
Number one, productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce.
The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough
to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason
for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and
the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it. To try
your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did.
You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.
2)
Next are good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support
system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this
support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in
its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about
you and still like you. I just lost one of my dearest friends.
He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of
my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck
in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one
phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me.
That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all
got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey,
if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have
both, real friends and casual friends.
3)
Next on the list of a good life is your culture. Your language,
your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that
is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is
the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality,
energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.
4)
Next is your religion, your spirituality. It helps to form the foundation
of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice
and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature,
it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds
and mice. Spirituality.
5)
Next - here's what my parents taught me. Don't miss anything.
Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie,
don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possible
can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything
and experience all you possible can. That's what my parents taught
me and it's served me so well to this day. Just before my father
died at age 93, if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he
wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play
softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere
every night.
Live
a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well,
you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it
will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique
and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your
personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a
vitality nothing else can give.
6)
Next are your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and
they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you.
With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was
still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast
most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy
Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would
go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special
day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of
the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call
Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel."
He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk
real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel.
I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath
the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception
on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean."
Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what
a special day for my father, age 93.
If
a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss
on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out
of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around
his body, he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the
inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't
miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said,
"There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person
caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better
to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a
mansion by yourself. One person cares for another, that's one of
life's greatest expressions.
So
make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons
you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will
bring the fruits and rewards that you desire.
To
Your Success,
Jim
Rohn
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