Many people are
concerned with what they consider to be “getting ahead.” They want to “win the
game”. This definition of success can include anything from being a top athlete
to being at the top of a Fortune 500 company.
What quite a few of these people discover is that winning doesn’t always
fulfill their expectations. In fact, winning
in one area may block victory in other areas.
Each of us
is given only a certain amount of hours in each day. Also, many of us have a
limited amount of energy. Therefore, we
must prioritize.
Celebrities
Some
prominent people have found that material
success doesn’t equal happiness. They may find that they have spent most of
their time working for financial success while they neglect their health and
their relationships. A person who is unhealthy, and has not nurtured close
relationships, is probably not going to be content.
Examples of
people who are wealthy, but discontented, can be found at the pinnacle of every
field. I have heard many cases of famous entertainers who ruin their health and
alienate their families:
Richard Pryor was a famous comedian. His successful career
in stand-up comedy, TV, and movies lasted decades. Yet, many sources state that
his personal life was troubled.
Alton Brown is the host
of Cutthroat Kitchen on the Food Network Channel. The long list of his
accomplishments includes the following: author, cinematographer, and producer.
Yet, one of the busiest men on the Food Network says that he has personal
challenges, and he is searching for fulfillment.
On the other
hand…
Marc Mero is a retired professional boxer and
wrestler. He is best known for his successful career with the World Wrestling
Federation. He is now a motivational speaker. He wants to especially let youth know
the importance of considering the choices they make as well as the consequences
of those choices. The successful former pro-wrestler warns people that material success can often crowd out more significant
goals.
Below,
please find an approximately 5-minute video of his speech that brought almost
an entire auditorium of middle-school kids to tears. (By the way, I cried,
too!) I guarantee that it’s worth your
time:
http://youtu.be/WI0Twlt1aek
http://youtu.be/WI0Twlt1aek
My
Conclusion
Marc Mero is a truly inspirational man who shares his
hard-won knowledge with many individuals; he boosts their lives enormously. I
admire the fact that he made so many difficult lifestyle changes. Yet, he is
only one of numerous people who have discovered that real joy cannot usually be
judged by determining “winners” and “losers”; it’s found in the method people
use to play the game.
How are you playing your game?
