‘Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value.’ Albert Einstein
There is such an immense push, especially in the world of personal development, to pursue success, and yet there is something so much deeper that needs to be imbedded into a life’s foundations if it is, in my view, to be truly successful – that of being a life of immense value.
But value is a multi-faceted word, which I would like to take a closer look at. So here are 5 facets that I believe constitute the life of the person who seeks to become a person of immense value.
1. The Value Of Integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.
As I have surveyed families, business and other organization, one of the key traits that I have noticed that has driven these collections of individuals apart has so often been a lack of honesty between the parties involved. To their face they are and say one thing, and then behind their back it’s a totally different story. The end result is ultimately distress, disaster and division.
Within my immediate family we have always made it our practice to be so open and honest with each other that at times it has been rather confrontational. But the good news is that when confrontation is coupled with love and forgiveness, the shackles of whatever has bound each of the parties crumbles and falls to the ground.
When it comes to morality, each of us has been created with a moral compass that was implanted into our being the very moment we were conceived. We can choose to follow it and maintain a course of peace and joy. Or rather we can ignore it to our ultimate demise.
Listen to your God-given conscience and watch what wonderful things will come your way throughout your integrous lifetime.
2. The Value Of Reliability
This value is coupled with keeping your word. If you say that you will do something or be somewhere then do it and be there, even if it is uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Oh look, none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes, but with all your being seek to be a man or woman of honor. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
If for some reason you can’t do something then say that you can’t. If you can do something then say that you can. Be renowned as the reliable one – the trustworthy one.
3. The Value Of Quality
If you’re going to do something do it with a spirit of excellence attached.
Go beyond the call of duty. Add a touch of class. Give 110%. Provide with passion. Invest your heart and soul in the assigned task. Listen. Learn and live the quality life. Don’t wait to be asked. Volunteer. Lend a hand. Dig deep.
Let your quality start at home by providing a quality of life environment for your family to live in, developing quality relationships, providing quality love and support, and then carry that quality over and into the workplace, and the organizations within which you serve.
4. The Value Of Investment
This goes far beyond financial investment. This is an investment of love, of knowledge, of encouragement, of support, of wisdom, of just being there for those who are part of your immediate family, and then on to your circle of friends and associates and further afield.
This is where the value of being a mentor for others is so important. So make sure that as you learn that you position yourself to also hand on to others what you have learned through the power of sharing.
Whatever you learn is not to be locked away in a vault, but rather to be sown as a seed into the hearts and lives of others.
The added value that arises in your own life as a direct result of being the teacher is that you will learn so much more.
5. The Value Of Love
Now don’t get all soppy on me as I share with you the word love. Love is a force. Love is strength. Love is the steel that binds lives together.
To love and to be loved is the backbone of any successful and valuable life.
Love takes on many forms – and I discussed this in my article – What Love Is & What Love Isn’t – but true love is more about the give than the take.
The reason so many people in our world ‘fall out of live’ is because they have forgotten that love – in order to be successful and long-lasting – requires of them to give, give, give, and give some more with at times no promise of it being returned to them.
But the very fact that the law of sowing and reaping is a reality – the more you give the more you will ultimately receive – if you persist.
This is the value of love.
So stop trying to become successful. Seek first to be valuable
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