How Do YOU Measure Your Achievements?

By Gary Vurnum

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."

This quote isn't one of my own — although I would like to echo its sentiments.

It was the great Winston Churchill who said it. A man who lead the Allies to victory in the Second World War.

A man who became one of Britain's most-loved heroes.

Yet — even though he achieved more in his life than you or I could possibly imagine — he certainly knew what was the most important part of his life.

It's easy to measure your achievements by the material things you have, or by how much money you earn.

It's much harder to put a value on those things that are vitally important for a happy and successful life:

• A good relationship with your spouse

• Happy, 'balanced' children

• Your health

• Somewhere to live

If you were to measure your success by those alone — I am sure that you would certainly view your achievements a little more positively.

It took the shock of my disabled son, Connor's, birth to make me really appreciate how lucky I was. Even though I didn't realise it at the time — I had achieved quite a lot of these 'goals' that matter.

It's no use being a 'star' at work if your home life is terrible.

It's no use being a millionaire if you've only got three weeks to live.

Unfortunately — we have all been 'conditioned' to focus solely on money as a barometer of success and achievement.

Sure — we could all certainly do with more of it in our lives — but is it really as important as we think it is?

You alone can answer this question:

"Would you rather have a million dollars or lose a loved one?"

I know — this may be a 'shocking' question to ask — but, when all is said and done — at least it might help you realise that what you take for granted is more precious than what you think you truly desire.

The first step on the road to success is to build a solid platform to support you for when you hit a low point — which you certainly will along the way.

So — don't put yourself down for appearing not to have accomplished anything with your life because you are not financially successful.

I have less money now than before Connor was born — yet by working on the things that matter in my life — I can honestly say that both myself and my family are the happiest we have ever been.

I spend more time with my wife, son, and daughter — and I have stopped taking them for granted because I have realised how important they are to me — above ALL else.

Now that I have a solid foundation — I can now begin to move forward and work towards some more of my own personal targets.

Don't let the cloud of money get in the way of what you easily achieve in your life.

Money makes the world go around — but it certainly doesn't make it any happier!

We are all comparatively richer than any generation before us — yet we seem more unhappy with 'our lot'.

No matter how many books you read or tapes you listen to — if you focus on money at the expense of what's really important to you — then you'll be in trouble.

Take stock of your life TODAY — and see what really important things you can achieve.

Once you have that foundation — then you can work on the monetary side of your achievement 'scale'.

The balance between success and failure isn't defined in dollars — it's measured by stability and happiness. •

© Gary Vurnum