I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with a lot of people in my life. My goal in life has always been to help others achieve their ambition of the “spotlight” (or whatever help they needed) while I’ve always been a “behind-the-scenes” person.
While others have wanted to get exposure, attention, jobs, needed personal help in their lives or whatever, I have always tried to help or be supportive in any way I could. Sometimes it didn’t happen. Sometimes it did. And sometimes it was wildly successful even beyond my belief.
I cannot take credit for any of these outcomes other than connecting dots in a world filled with them. The tale of the dots relied on themselves.
Achieving success is subjective. You can be successful in whatever way you define it. Great dad? Make lots of money? Be a thought-leader in your industry? Write a book? Build a charitable foundation?
It’s up to you what makes you feel as if your life is successful. Not what other people say or think. Do you need to be in the spotlight to feel that you’re successful? I certainly don’t.
What hurts the most (and is the lightbulb that illuminates above your head in your own version of Spidey-Sense) is when people that claim to be your friends ask for advice or help when they want it but then you never hear from them again… until the pattern comes full circle.
My wife loved the Oprah Winfrey show. One year, I bought her the entire library of her shows and felt obligated to watch them with her. The most important thing (in my opinion) that I learned is that you should always lend people money (or anything) with the expectation that you will never get it back. By thinking that way, you never lose friends or family members over anything.
I use this same advice when I think about helping people who ask me for it. I don’t expect anything in return.
Cheers!
