Fame, Fortune and/or Family… are you creating what really matters to you?
Samuel Johnson grew up poor and handicapped in 18th Century England . He was also brilliant and determined to be independent. Son of a bookseller, Johnson was a voracious reader.
While attending Oxford, young Samuel was mortified when a fellow student left a pair of shoes on the doorstep one night after noticing the condition of his tattered shoes. He dropped out of Oxford after a year, unable to pay his tuition.
Johnson started a teaching career. Lacking a degree, and with physical handicaps that made him a target for children’s disrespect, he was not successful.
So he turned to writing where his career finally blossomed. Johnson was a prolific writer, creating a dictionary, poems, sermons, books, and political essays. Today he is the second most frequently quoted person in the English-speaking world, second only to Shakespeare.
What does this story have to do with coaching?
At first glance, nothing.
Look a little deeper into his writings and you’ll find this quote:
“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.”
Bam. Kind of hits you right between the eyes doesn’t it?
At this time of year when we are rushing around with holiday preparations, looking back at 2007 and maybe being hard on ourselves for all the things we did or did not do, those twelve words put it all into perspective.
How about some of these questions to ponder on a winter’s night:
- Are you happy at home? Is your family?
- How can you mark and celebrate the richness of your home life?
- In what ways does your business support your home life or subtract from it?
- What are you going to do to enhance your happiness at home?
As you wind up 2007 and look ahead to 2008, I hope you use these words to create what really matters in your life and your business. And then, turn around and be better able to do the same for your clients.
“To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.”
Samuel Johnson
Raise your glass with me in celebration of all the little things that make home feel like home. Salute!
I loved this entry. This really helped to put somethings in perspective for the new year. One thing that I want to bring in is to not make the same mistakes last year. I wrote about New Year’s goals as well on my website, so it’s like everyone is trying to turn a new leaf. Happy New Year!