Don’t Miss the Point…
My dad had a very good friend who grew up in an Arkansas farming town as one of nine children. This man rose up from abject poverty to become very wealthy. He ended up owning over a hundred units of real estate and accumulated a staggering fortune. He was a vibrant and charismatic person who saw business as a dog-eat-dog boxing match, with his financial statement serving as his score card.
He contracted cancer later in life, and I went to visit him with my dad several months ago on what became the day before he died. We laughed and chatted about his many accomplishments in life for over an hour. As we were leaving, he called me back into the room. When I approached his bed, he grabbed me by the arm and said,
“Don’t miss the point like I did. I wish I’d spent as much time and energy accumulating relationships as I had houses. I wish I had invested my heart as aggressively as I did my money. Only now do I understand true wealth, and none of it appears on a balance sheet.”
We’ve all heard a similar story before. He probably had heard a similar story. When we look back at our lives, it will be our relationships that will matter most. Yet, still, our lives don’t reflect this wisdom. Ask anyone what their highest priorities are, and they will tell you their relationships with family and friends. But then you look at their calendars, you watch who gets priority when the phone rings, and the reality is quite different.
A great benefit to the economic recession this past year is that it forces us to assess what’s really important. “Things” lost their luster, and relationships became our saving grace. My wish is that we stay sober to this truth. The holiday season is an opportunity for us to exercise giving from our hearts and our wallets.
This issue of SUCCESS is dedicated to helping you revitalize, restore and recommit to your important relationships in life. Phil and Robin McGraw understand that family comes first, at the holidays and year-round, and they offer their tips from more than 30 years of marriage and parenting two successful children (page 50). Wayne Dyer (page 72) and Deepak Chopra (page 76) suggest that the path to true wealth starts as an inside job.
We are here to exercise our gifts and talents. It is important to achieve and succeed, in both the marketplace and in our personal lives. Let’s not “miss the point.” Make sure your calendar represents the priorities you claim to be most important in life.
Thoughts on how you will/are allocating versus just accumulating? Tell us in comments below…
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Dear Darren:
I have been a long-time lover and supporter of Success magazine (probably for 20+ years), so I was really excited to learn that Success was being revitalized a few years back which led me to resubscribe.
To be honest, however, I have NOT used or listened to any of the CDs that have been bound into the magazine . . . until yesterday. What a mistake on my part!
Thank you, thank you for taking the time and expense to also include these valuable interviews and audio nuggets of wisdom with the magazine, information and ideas from some of the most SUCCESSful and inspirational consultants, business owners and leaders on the planet.
I LOVED the interview with the Osteens. I even wrote down a quote from John C. Maxwell as I was driving my car: “Positive thinking MUST be followed by positive action.” Clearly not one of my smartest moves yesterday, but I liked it so much I even tweeted it later.
What a fantastic idea to bind an audio CD with SUCCESS filled with great content to complement the great printed content within the mag, and I should know because I helped promote the very first CD ever enclosed within a magazine, a feat accomplished back in the early 1990s by TestDrive Corp.
Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a note to say “Thanks,” Darren, and to let you know that you have a fan for life.
Sincerely,
David Politis
[DARREN HARDY] David, thank YOU for your comments! Glad you finally discovered the treasure trove of value hidden on the CD bound into the magazine! It is one of the distinguishing features of SUCCESS (NO ONE else does it!) and definitely (one of) the favorite features of SUCCESS readers – personally, its my favorite part of what we do as well.
I appreciate you taking the time to offer your positive feedback – everyone here on the SUCCESS team loves to hear it. Love that quote from Maxwell too!
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Hi Darren,
Today marks 9 months of unemployment [laid off] from a job I held for 10 years as a broadcast studio technician. My priorities have always been God first, wife second, children third and then a see saw between family/friends and work fourth. Now that I have been home I’m able to allocate my time by doing a morning devotional with my wife, helping with house maintenance, encouraging others through some inspirational writings, volunteering for a ministry at our local church, helping our high school & elementary school children with their homework, enjoying outdoor activities together as a family, spending quality time with my wife watching a movie/television after the children have gone asleep all the while searching for employment. I couldn’t have done all those things working in the broadcast news industry with its 24/7 always on schedule. I have learned things about myself and my family that wasn’t possible before being laid off. And, those are the things that will create a legacy for our children to model for their generation, not that daddy works & makes this much money or on this or that particular show. I appreciate my wife even more for her ability to hold our family together while I was out there trying to make my mark in corporate america.
BTW, I LOVE Success Magazine and the various ezines that I receive via email. Keep up the good work and look forward to reading the next issue and listening to the next cd.
Best Regards,
Trevor Finn
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This is so true. While becoming successful, we often forget about what is most important in life and that is relationships. I have 4 children of my own. I feel blessed to have them and always try to make them a priority. Balance is the key to success. You have to work at it to succeed.
Phil and Robin McGraw are successful because of their hard work and sacrifices. Wow… what a fantastic family.
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I want response to David Politis and Darren Hardy,
I make mistake about CD and DVD too. I am hard of hearing, One side is total deaf, other side I still can hear in little… I grow up in deaf community in most of my life.
Personal I love SUCCESS Magazine since 2 year. I notice that CD/ DVD in it. I never used it because I cant hear what CD/ DVD talk about. So I just leave in Magazine and keep it. I never throw all SUCCESS Magazine away.
I start social with hearing community for 6 year now since I build my business for community. When I start realize that my hearing community have negative around them, I feel bad that I did not help them about this SUCCESS Magazine. I did not spread the word about this Magazine to them.
So, I start giving them CD/ DVD, NOW they love it and subscribe SUCCESS Magazine. Their negative start become positive.
IT WORK!
I start spread word the SUCCESS Magazine more than before.
I am deaf so I never hear/ watch CD/ DVD for since 2 year, but I pass that tools to everyone. I don’t want them miss the point of power of positive information.
Jenna
[DARREN HARDY] Thank you for helping spread the hope and opportunity news through SUCCESS magazine Jenna!
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Dear Darren,
For so many years I have been struggling with raising a family, finances and trying to figure out what I could do to better provide for my family and maintain healthy relationships. These struggles have left me looking back and asking myself, ” Where was I”? I missed out on so much with my family while trying to make their lives better. The last 15 years I have been going to college on & off trying to get a degree. Finally, I have one test left to graduate in December. After all these years of training for a field that would make me an employee, I have decided to go a different direction as an Independent Beauty Consultant. My main goal is to empower others to grow mentally, physically & financially while being able to spend more time with family & friends. I never realize that teaching others how to take time for themselves would be so rewarding. Sharing the Spa experience with others for free empowers others in so many ways.
I first heard of you while attending a conference in Texas with Beauty Control. I was amazed at your approach on how to succeed in the business world today. The first thing I expected to hear was sell, sell, sell! However, you confirm that sharing and giving first with others, ultimately is returned to those who step out and take chances. With my experience in giving thus far, I can already see that the return will be so much more than I could ever give. Thank you for sharing inspiring words of wisdom, that everyone can benifit from.
Dwanna
[DARREN HARDY] Thank you for your wonderful comments Dwanna! Keep sharing and giving!!
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we really enjoy the cd’s and the artickes in each magazine we read them fron cover tocover keep up the good work of interviewing successful poeple and sharing their stories with us
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I was privelaged to see Darren at a Beachbody function a couple of weeks ago and was totally impressed by the wisdom he has when dealing with people and especially with what make certain people successful and other’s not…Think about it and I encourage you to read a book called “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson where he talks about developing a philosophy to change the way you think. Great book to understand why you need to develop relationships to have a meaning for your “dash” born 1956 Dash 2040
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Good Morning Darren,
This is the first time that I have ever read your blog. It is very amazing to me to be writing in this fashion (I belive in the old fashioned way of writing, you know with pen and paper) however, this way is great also.
I enjoyed the story of your father’s friend and yes, I have had heard several stories similar to that one. I’m planning on a trip across country to visit family and the threat of layoff from my job is putting my husband in a scare mode, but I will go (and he will also). I’m writing this to say to tell others to please spend some time with loved ones, regardless of your financial state.
I want to be one of those people who will look back on life with a smile of all the people in my life and all the things that I have done!
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It is true that we often fall into that trap of placing more value in material things and neglecting what matters the most- the people in our lives. Being a young person right now and focusing soo much on getting a degree I am that person who is neglecting other people and I hope that it will change very soon. I aso have noticed however that people tend to like people who are succesful and quiet blessed financially. I have noticed that with myself, studying medicine there are people who have sudddenly found interest in me, amazing I must say.
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Touchy, Darren.
This man knew, found out, how important love and caring for us all is, at the last day of his life he still had the strengh to highlight his human doings in order to let us the example that money… at the end, worths nothing, at all.
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What an inspiring post, we entrepreneurs do have a focus of success and it is so very important to remember the root of our desires. Me, I wanted to quit my ‘j-o-b’ so I could be home with my daughter. I did so, back in 2002. My why was so powerful that I now help other parents like me make this happen too.
Today I read in November’s SUCCESS magazine an article on Legacy, I feel this too corresponds to your post; when we go we can’t take the houses, the cars, the boats, the toys with us. What will we leave behind? How will people remember us? What footprints will we leave upon the hearts of those we love? What footprints will we leave upon the planet?
It’s okay to live a wealthy lifestyle, just make sure the foundation of wealth is built upon heart and soul…
Alethea Anderson
http://www.AletheaAnderson.com
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As I’m sitting at my computer at 7:30pm…after dinner, the kids are settled in and the mrs. is folding laundry, I couldn’t have read a more pertinent article. I have to constantly remind myself to take time away from the daily grind and love my loved ones first. Thanks for the great post. I will follow your blog from here on. Thanks.
CMA
http://crownmultimediaagency.com/blog
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Thank you for touching on a subject very deserving of reflection, especially among success-minded individuals. I am touched by the story of your father and the insight within his last conversation with you. With luck, others who have driven themselves powerfully, neglecting their loved ones in the process, will recognize the need to re-prioritize.
I can offer a different perspective, but which validates the same point, I think. In my childhood, abuse took many horrific forms, and happened frequently. My own healing and growth continue to this day. But that’s almost incidental, compared to my greatest accomplishment…
Despite a challenging background, with virtually no loving parenting models from my own childhood whom I could emulate, I raised my (now grown) children with deep love, compassion, and always with an awareness that their lives were their own to define as they matured and grew up. I refused to repeat the atrocities which had been visited upon me. In fact, for a few years I used the approach of asking myself, “What would mom do?” – and then did EXACTLY the opposite. It worked very well, I must say.
I do not have material wealth, nor do I have a best-selling book. And yet, I feel grateful for what I *have* accomplished. Loving one’s children, and validating who they are, what they’re feeling, what their dreams are – these are important.
I offer my deepest thanks to all parents out there who guide their children with love, appropriate boundaries, and an understanding that our children will inherit a future about which we can only dream. _/|\_ Namasté
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Dear Darren,
Thank you!!!!! I am very excited!!!
are you a member on facebook?
[DARREN HARDY] Yes I am, Edgar! Feel free to add me as a friend: http://www.facebook.com/darrenjhardy
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Darren,
Thank you sharing that story. I for one as a business owner can get caught up in my own thing as I let my business run me at times. Over the last two years I’ve been reading more and more of your material and really enjoying it. I am a huge Jim Rohn fan as well and I have purchased many of his cd’s. As I have really been listening to you and reading you material this past month sometimes it seems like your takeing over where he left off. I know Mr Rohn can not be replaced but your doing a great job thank you.
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I believe that the greatest gift you can give anyone you love and mostly your children is daily eye contact with thoughts going through the brain behind the eyes saying, “You are such an amazing gift.” My kids are 10, 13 and 15 and it is still working. We are very close. I believe you should keep your children happy, healthy and safe – in that order. If it is in that order the safe will probably take care of itself. I do not want my eulogy to read, “She was a good cook and she made sure I never did anything dangerous” but that they are left scrambling for words to decribe the deep feelings of love and courage left in their heart. They won’t even know where they (the feelings) came from. But they will have seen it in my eyes.
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I have been enclosed in a PINK Mary Kay bubble for over 20 years! Then I re-entered the “real” world and discovered the negativity and stress that we as a people endure in the current work place. Mary Kay Ash was truly a leader and her philosophy of God first,family second, and career third has been taught to countless women over the years. This sharing from you Darren,picks up where Mary Kay left off and encourages us to continue to set our priorities straight and do what matters most. Thank You, Darren
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I made choices to reduce my career expectations and be more available for my children. Their Dad was a workaholic and I believed my presence for them was more important. Unfortunately the marriage did not survive and it took a long time to put my life back together. My deep regret is that at this time neither of my daughters (ages 21 &28) place any value on those choices. “What have you done with your life, Mom?”
I look forward to working my way through this exciting program. Yes this will be an amazing new decade and I want to leave a legacy for my daughters and all children.
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I am amazed and inspired by everyone’s words and feel privileged to be able to participate in this journey. …I really have to go out and get my first copy of SUCCESS magazine. Thank you Darren and all of you who participated in the discussion.
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I am new surfer on this web page of success magazine. Truly i found myself very energized and motivated reading each article of this web site. I just wish you keep contributing above stuff.
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I believe that is the reason a lot of Moms and Dads choose to work from home, so they can be close to their families.
“What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world if he lost his own soul?”
Money is important of course BUT God, good health and family are my number one priorities.
Set Priorities and value what means most to you!!
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Dear Darren,
I came across your magazine some years ago on my visit to the US – it was the Donald Trump edition and I have been hooked ever since. I tell people it’s the best magazine I have ever seen on Personal Development. I live in Nigeria and run my own OD consultancy and unfortunately, you can never get such magazines here. They are not even available in the UK so all the copies I have are those I bought when I was in the US. Even when I send friends living in the US, they never seem to find it. I would desperately love to subscibe but can never rely on surface post unless by UPS or Fedx, which will make it more expensive. Please how can I go abou this?
[DARREN HARDY] SUCCESS is distributed in the UK (SGent@SUCCESS.com can tell you where)… and we have thousands of international subscribers who get it mailed to them – normal subscription process: https://www.success.com/subscriptions/12i2999/?subkey=9SMH
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I work so I can feed my family and not the other way around which is I have a family so I need to work. With this kind principle I have, I don’t bother much if I lose a job because there are still other ways to feed my family. But if I lose my family and friends then everything I am working for is for nothing.
I hope I’m not missing the point with this principle of mine.
[DARREN HARDY] You are on target and as you know that there is more to building a valuable and meaningful relationship than just making sure your family is fed of course. And relationships and the importance on your life experience goes beyond just your immediate family as well.
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videos chistosos
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