I was very fortunate to have known and befriended football and acting great, Merlin Olsen. He was not only one of the finest motivational speakers I ever heard, but one of the most inspirational people I ever met. Please watch this video of Merlin speaking at one of our company sales meetings. I think his words might change your life ... they certainly did mine.
Taking a page out of Merlin's book, I sat down and put some reflections on paper, both for myself and for the benefit of my kids. Ultimately, I decided 'what the heck' and posted them here. Hopefully, some of the life lessons I have learned (and am still learning) will be helpful to you:
1. Take responsibility for yourself.
This is a great first step, and essential in the development of your personal character. Recognize that nobody can help you more than you. The earlier you accept personal responsibility and practice self-reliance ... the stronger, more confident, and more resilient person you will become.
2. Learn a 'skill'.
By this I mean learn a specific discipline that enables you to make a solid living, either within an organization or on your own. Good examples of this might be electrician, plumber, doctor, nurse, lawyer, engineer, accountant/financial analyst, computer programmer, teacher or realtor. Any skill that requires a license, a certification, or is considered a specialty is a great advantage in today's competitive marketplace. Also, there are certain industries that have brighter futures than others ... health/senior care, technology, and anything connected to the government. Be cognizant of these things, so you can be better positioned to succeed. Whatever paths you choose to pursue, strive for mastery. Absorb all you can about the subject. Develop an expertise in and passion for it. Follow it to its logical conclusion. Never do anything half-assed. It is only through this kind of commitment that you will maximize your potential and achieve true excellence.
This is a great first step, and essential in the development of your personal character. Recognize that nobody can help you more than you. The earlier you accept personal responsibility and practice self-reliance ... the stronger, more confident, and more resilient person you will become.
2. Learn a 'skill'.
By this I mean learn a specific discipline that enables you to make a solid living, either within an organization or on your own. Good examples of this might be electrician, plumber, doctor, nurse, lawyer, engineer, accountant/financial analyst, computer programmer, teacher or realtor. Any skill that requires a license, a certification, or is considered a specialty is a great advantage in today's competitive marketplace. Also, there are certain industries that have brighter futures than others ... health/senior care, technology, and anything connected to the government. Be cognizant of these things, so you can be better positioned to succeed. Whatever paths you choose to pursue, strive for mastery. Absorb all you can about the subject. Develop an expertise in and passion for it. Follow it to its logical conclusion. Never do anything half-assed. It is only through this kind of commitment that you will maximize your potential and achieve true excellence.
3. Regarding money.
Basic common sense ... save as much as you can. If you are not prepared financially for the absolute worst of circumstances, then you aren't prepared. Do not assume that the government will be able to support you. Money is freedom, it gives you more choices and helps facilitate a better life. However, wealth can also be a burden, and can be a constant source of worry. I concur with the maxim ... money makes a good servant, but a bad master.
4. Try to live simply.
For many years I was a collector. Eventually, I had so many collections that every closet in our house was packed full. As I became older, all that stuff became less and less valuable to me. I realized that the more stuff you own, the more it owns you. I purged most everything. As I removed the clutter, I felt more disciplined, clear-minded, and less stressed. I was better able to discriminate between quality and quantity, and it helped me focus on what was really important.
5. Health is wealth.
5. Health is wealth.
Two thousand years ago, Roman poet Virgil wrote, "The greatest wealth is health." Ralph Waldo Emerson reiterated that same wisdom in 1860 as did Mahatma Gandhi decades later. Keeping yourself heathy throughout your life enables you to maximize your potential as well as enjoy all that you earned. It is the foundation on which everything else is built. Without good health, nothing else matters.
6. Develop strong and long-lasting friendships.
I'm not talking about networking (i.e. Facebook 'Friends') ... I'm talking about people who genuinely care and support you ... and you for them. These friendships will prove invaluable, in good times and in bad times. You don't need many ... all you need is one or two.
7. Explore the world ... but start with home.
In order to expand your horizons and develop a greater appreciation of the earth and fellow man, you must travel the world. See as much of it as you can. However, I would strongly recommend that you extensively travel the United States first ... and I would personally recommend that you start with Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Yosemite National Park, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Gettysburg National Military Park, and the Grand Canyon.
8. Keep busy.
This was my great-grandfather FJ's favorite piece of advice. Maybe it means continuing to work. Maybe it means volunteering in your neighborhood. Maybe it means creating; through artwork or writing, but continue to develop your mind. FJ believed that it was essential to have something to strive for each day. Never stop moving!!
6. Develop strong and long-lasting friendships.
I'm not talking about networking (i.e. Facebook 'Friends') ... I'm talking about people who genuinely care and support you ... and you for them. These friendships will prove invaluable, in good times and in bad times. You don't need many ... all you need is one or two.
7. Explore the world ... but start with home.
In order to expand your horizons and develop a greater appreciation of the earth and fellow man, you must travel the world. See as much of it as you can. However, I would strongly recommend that you extensively travel the United States first ... and I would personally recommend that you start with Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Yosemite National Park, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Gettysburg National Military Park, and the Grand Canyon.
8. Keep busy.
This was my great-grandfather FJ's favorite piece of advice. Maybe it means continuing to work. Maybe it means volunteering in your neighborhood. Maybe it means creating; through artwork or writing, but continue to develop your mind. FJ believed that it was essential to have something to strive for each day. Never stop moving!!
9. Let go.
For years I struggled to make my life perfect by trying to control the people and circumstances surrounding me on a daily basis. I eventually learned several bitter lessons that life's outcomes are often random and seemingly unfair. If you're lucky, you eventually have an epiphany where you realize that no matter how hard you try, life is a collage of crazy events and interactions. Resilient people are able to let go of the need to control everything beyond themselves and roll with the vicissitudes of life.
10. Find your spiritual footing.
In order to fully understand and embrace life, it is important to look inward and find your spiritual core. For some, this is facilitated through faith and organized religion. For others, the process may be more of an intellectual or experiential exercise. There is an old Chinese proverb that relates to this ... There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is the same ... meaning that no matter what spiritual path is followed, they all lead to the same place and share a common purpose.
11. Cultivate personal humility.
Finally, among all the people whom I admire, the people whom I admire most are those few who, despite having achieved significant success, also maintain a sense of gratitude and personal humility. They place themselves outside the center and view themselves as part of something greater. Their wisdom, maturity, and self-possession are examples I try to emulate every day. Developing a true sense of humility is one of life's greatest accomplishments.
I hope you have a very happy and successful life!!
Tom
In order to fully understand and embrace life, it is important to look inward and find your spiritual core. For some, this is facilitated through faith and organized religion. For others, the process may be more of an intellectual or experiential exercise. There is an old Chinese proverb that relates to this ... There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is the same ... meaning that no matter what spiritual path is followed, they all lead to the same place and share a common purpose.
11. Cultivate personal humility.
Finally, among all the people whom I admire, the people whom I admire most are those few who, despite having achieved significant success, also maintain a sense of gratitude and personal humility. They place themselves outside the center and view themselves as part of something greater. Their wisdom, maturity, and self-possession are examples I try to emulate every day. Developing a true sense of humility is one of life's greatest accomplishments.
I hope you have a very happy and successful life!!
Tom