Comments on: family. finance. friends. fitness. faith.

By: Feedback | Apt Design

Feedback | Apt Design — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:53:29 +0000

[...] from yourself. setting aside time to think about your life and how you are moving towards your goals and dreams will not only aid you in achieving those, but often leaves you feeling refreshed and invigorated [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:24:15 +0000

I’m not so sure the keys to success or happyness are that simple.

Think of the bumper sticker, “If you’re not outraged, your not paying attention.” (Not that i fully subscribe to this motto) Or I suppose the inverse: “Ignorance is Bliss”.

Is it possible to “pay attention” and be happy and sucessful? Does happyness require ignorance?

family. friends. finance. fitness. faith. ignorance?

By: shane

shane — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:43:16 +0000

Scott – you make 2 really great points! Thanks so much for your comment.

There is a joy to a life well lived. Satisfaction for achievement, love, growth and all the things that make life worth living. The things that make us smile.

I’ve always considered that quite different from the turbulence that most people call happiness. The issue is that many contractors I meet often allow this fickle feeling (momentary euphoria?) – to shape their decision making. I feel happy right now therefor I should do this. Its like a heroin user looking for their next fix. I have heard one too many people say that they are not happy right now (for a number of reasons) and therefor they consider themselves and their business “a failure”. I just honestly believe that success is based upon much more than an emotion. Of course, I’m thrilled you disagree and can’t wait to read your rebuttal blog argument. I’m open and will read it voraciously.

As for the spouse, can’t argue that one. Poor choice on my part. I wouldn’t be a 1/4 the man I am becoming without Julie at my side. If she died I would be devastated. But I would not consider myself less successful.

Thanks for the thoughts!

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:23:35 +0000

Allow me to disagree. I don’t believe happiness is a “fleeting emotion”. People who are truly happy (as opposed to fooling themselves) are happy over a long period of time – months upon months, years upon years.

People who are happy are not sad on Monday, happy on Tuesday, sad on Wednesday, depressed on Thursday, elated on Friday. Fleeting happiness is more a sign of a psychological problem.

Also, I take issue with your example, if my spouse died it should not have an impact on my success. My spouse is one of the large reasons for my success and happiness. And she will be in the future. So if she was to die, it definitely would make me a less successful person. Isn’t “family” and “fitness” part of your success criteria? So your spouse dying would impact your success even under your own definition of it.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:53:21 +0000

Great blog! I love the five choices and could even see there being possibly one or two other goal areas…such as what Peter suggests environment and maybe (something I find of value) service. I think it depends on the person.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:01:41 +0000

This is great! It does leave me with one question though… Where does Environment fit into the equation? I can’t see being successful if the world around me is falling apart.

I see “friends” and “family” as part of my environment. And I can see “fitness” as pertaining to keeping the air clean. “Faith” inspires helping others. And “finance” can support efforts to make the world a better place. But ultimately, I can’t claim success without witnessing the success of my environment and the world around me.

-p