Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening depending on when and where you are tuning in from. This is episode 12 of The Blue Collar Executive podcast. I am your host Lewis Taulbee, Jr. Today I want to talk about the most important key for success. In fact, if I had to write the definition for success in one word, this would be it - happiness. I'm happy to be doing this podcast so let's go.
The category of this podcast is success so as the host you would think I would at least know the true definition of success, but I really don't know for sure. In fact, I have had a continued pursuit for many years to define success. I have asked many people and I've received many different answers. Here's what I do know. Success is not how much money you have in your bank account. It's not what kind of car you drive or how big your house is. It is not your position or your title. I also know that it cannot be traveled to, bought, earned, worn, or consumed. So by continuing to eliminate these things, I truly believe that success is the spiritual experience of living every moment with love, grace, gratitude and contentment. Translation - being happy, no matter how much money you have, what you drive, where you live or what your job title is. If you are happy and content in your heart, you are successful. You are just as successful as a CEO, a pro athlete, or the president of the United States. Those are all just job titles. If you know in your heart that you're fulfilling your God given purpose well then you are achieving what you were put here to do. Period. As I have said in previous episodes, if you have a drive in your heart or something telling you to do more or change your path, then you need to pursue that to achieve your success and true happiness. That internal steering is something that only you and God know about. One of my biggest struggles has always been contentment. Not long ago my wife asked me what is enough for you? It was just a rhetorical question and more of a remark she was using to make a point in an argument we were having. I didn't answer and just nodded my head in agreement because after 30 years of marriage I've learned that's the best tactic if I want peace in my home life. She didn't realize it but with that one remark she not only made her point but left me pondering that question for a long time. I still don't know the answer. I have a drive inside of me that won't allow me to stop wanting more. When I started my first job at McDonald's, I knew I didn't want to just be the cook. I wanted to be the franchise owner. That's the way it's been my entire career. I've always wanted my boss’ job. When I became a vice president, I wanted to be a president. When I became president, I wanted to be CEO, and then chairman. You see the vicious trend. I envy people that are content in what they do. I remember when I managed hotels we had associates in all trades and at all levels. I remember thinking the most happy people were the laundry workers. Many of them had been in their job for 20 plus years and I could never understand how they were always so happy when they had the hardest job in the company. They worked in that hot, humid basement every day washing dirty sheets and towels from every guest. They had never wanted to become managers or to elevate to any other position. They were doing exactly what they aspired to do and because of that they were happy and content. Again, the key word is happy. They were as successful as the president of that hotel company. Now I'm explaining how I'm wired for the purpose of this podcast. I'm certainly not saying it's the best way to be. In fact I often wish I could just find a place to stop and say, I made it. I don't know if I'll ever find that place and maybe if I do I'll do a sequel podcast. I have learned, however, always to be happy and grateful wherever I am and be patient for what's to come. Patience is also hard for me, but I remind myself every day that God's plan is the best plan. I just need to pray and be thankful for that day, wherever I am and whatever I'm doing. To be honest, I don't think I will ever find my “made it” point in business no matter how long I am in it or how much success I have. However, I do believe my long career in business is preparing me to fulfill my ultimate purpose, whatever that is. Someone recently asked me how long I had been doing podcasting. I said I've only been doing them for a few months, but I've spent my entire life writing and preparing them. Last week I was speaking with one of the top executive coaches in the world. This guy travels the globe working with many of the world's top CEOs. He told me that the most common thing he helps them find is their purpose. No matter how successful they are in their respective business, they've not found contentment or happiness. Then after he does the process with them and discovers what their true calling or passion is, he said it's very common for them to feel like they've wasted so many years on the wrong path. He then has to help them understand that the path they were on may have been the long way, but it's still taking them in the right direction and because of all the detours they'll be better qualified when they arrive. Here's what I have learned and know for sure. When we are happy and content today we're on the right path for our journey and we will arrive right where we're supposed to be. Remember Jesus said only worry about today because tomorrow will take care of itself. As I said, being anxious to get where I'm going has always been a struggle for me. If you've ridden in a car with me, you'll know. Everyone complains that I drive too fast. I just want to get there. I have to continually remind myself to just be in every moment. I have learned to be happy and content. I still have that drive in me and I still aspire to do so much more, but I am enjoying every moment as much as I'm going to enjoy the destination. When I chose the topic for this podcast, I began researching it and found thousands of people that have thousands of opinions on how to be happy. I recommend checking some of them out if you struggle. However, for the purpose of this episode, I just want to stress the importance of being happy and content to reach your success. As I've said before, there are many billionaires out there that are not successful. Money is not success. I cannot say that enough. If you're waking up every morning with your only focus being on how you're going to make that next dollar, you're never going to reach success. If you think you will be happier making double what you're making today, you're mistaken. I promise you that. My wife and I just celebrated 30 years of marriage. We went through some old photos to reminisce and I realized that my level of success has never changed. When we first got married we saved and scraped every penny we could and bought a little house. We were so broke that for the first few months we couldn't even afford furniture for it and we sat in lawn chairs. We have come a long way in 30 years. My career has been blessed. Our financials are much better. We have a bigger house with actual furniture in it. I was just as successful the day I got married as I am today because we were just as happy and content sitting in those lawn chairs as we are today sitting in our reclining sofa. Of course, we now have the ability to experience more and enjoy things that we once couldn't, but that's what we work for. So back to what I said in the beginning. We worked for those things that we can buy, travel to and wear, but we should always be happy, grateful, and content with what we have and where we are. This is where the phrase money can't buy you happiness came from. It's very true. Happiness cannot be bought or earned. It's an absolute choice. A choice that we can make despite the circumstances around us. Bad things happen to all of us. We all go through struggles. We all get sad. That's called life. Even in those difficult times we can stay focused and grateful for our blessings. My mom used to always say count your blessings and when you think you're having a bad day you can always look around and find someone else that's having bigger struggles. Losing my mom was one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. It was very hard, but I got through it by continuing to thank God for his blessings. I will never understand why she passed so young. I miss her every day, but I am happy and grateful to God for allowing her to be my mom and for every moment that I had with her. We have a choice of being the victor or the victim. I believe that life is too short to spend a single minute being the victim. Look at the apostle Paul. Here is a fellow that was beaten, flogged and imprisoned. The poor guy experienced more troubles than any one of us could even imagine. However, through it all, he kept a grateful and happy heart. He said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether I'm well fed or I'm hungry, whether I'm living in plenty or I have want, I can do all this through him who gives me strength”. You know that little song The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow? I don't like that song. I want the sun to come out today. You have seen the sign in the restaurants that say free food tomorrow. Well the owner knows he is safe because tomorrow will always be a day away. We can't wait for tomorrow. Choose to be happy today. No person, situation or circumstance can define who we are. Our happiness is our choice so choose to be happy. Surround yourself with people who remind you that you matter and support you in ways that matter most to you. More importantly, give unconditional love to them. A friend told me a great story and if you have dogs you can relate. He said that he and his wife have two little dogs and they're like kids to them. He says sometimes he feels like his wife loves those dogs more than she loves him. She's always talking sweet to them, petting them and giving them treats. He said they could poop on the rug and then be getting petted in her lap an hour later. One day he was sitting on the couch with his laptop working when his wife came home. As they always did the dogs went crazy jumping on her, barking and licking her. They were just so happy to see her. She walked on in the room and said hello to him as she passed. He didn't look up just said hey, but then it hit him. If I treated my wife as good as those dogs treat her, maybe she would treat me as good as she treats those dogs. I think he's onto something. The only thing a dog has to give his unconditional love. I truly believe we can learn a lot from them. Imagine if we all treated each other with unconditional love. Wow. That's a world I would want to live in. That is a happy place. Proverbs 16 says he who heeds the word wisely will find good and whoever trust in the Lord happy is he. Always believe in yourself, push your limits, experience life, conquer your goals, but always stay happy and content. Keep looking up and never lose your joy and happiness pursuing them. Remember to always stay grateful and to keep on the sunny side.
That concludes another episode of The Blue Collar Executive podcast. I hope you found some value in it or at the very least found it entertaining. I wish you all great happiness. Thank you so much for listening.