The price of success

Just what is the price of success? Do you have to sell your soul to the Devil, work long hours and merit from others misfortune?
Probably!

I sit here right now in a rather reflective mood, thinking of what the future may hold and what I’ve done to get here I may as well share my thoughts.

Of course this is subjective so apologies if what I say you disagree with. I only speak using my own ideology of success, and what I think the “price” has been or could yet be.

For the past 5 or 6 years I have worked extremely hard - harder than anyone I know in fact. I won’t say I’ve worked better than anyone I know, just harder and longer hours than them! I’ve had some catastrophic failures, and I’ve had some minor successes. But in my own eyes I am still a long way off from what I would be able to call a huge success… apart from my daughter Phoebe who is without question something to be for ever proud of, and it was so easy too!!

If I don’t see myself as a success now, how can I talk about the costs of achieving it!? I can’t in all honesty! But at this moment in time I am close to earning more than I ever have done, my outgoings are the highest they’ve ever been too but this is a personal choice so I won’t complain, it is also something which is necessary for me to achieve what I want.

I am also on the brink of what I hope I will be able to say in the near future was a success, I am certainly not baking on it just yet, but I do know of the sacrifices made to even make it this far:

1) Long hours. Without question one of the most obvious to point out, but with that also comes seeing less of your family. It is they in reality who have to make the sacrifices, having to put blind faith that you are doing the right thing in putting work before them. Never easy, and often very upsetting.
2) Stress. I traded in the mundane 9-5 long ago, and with it I traded the security of a steady income. The freedom of empty evenings and weekends. The ability to look at cash purely as disposable income rather than always measuring it against what it might be used for in business. Making this trade means you inevetabley can become stressed, especially when times are tight. And again, it’s usually others around you that suffer most.
3) Sanity. Not to be confused for stress! I fear now that my mind set is so locked in to this that even after I begin achieving the ambitious goals I have set myself I will be unable to stop. If this is the case I may continue working insanely until the day I drop - lets hope I know when to quit!

So, think long and hard about whether or not you want to be successful! Or at least think long and hard about wanting to gauge your success on the same scale I do. Granted most won’t, but for those who do you’ve got to be prepared to work longer than anyone you know, harder than anyone you know, continue even when everyone else doubts you are doing the right thing, and painfully you may have to force others to make sacrifices in order that YOU can continue on your quest.

All sounds a bit bleak doesn’t it! I guarantee there are people out there who would disagree entirely with me, they might have achieved everything they ever wanted without encountering any of these issues. Some people are gifted with extreme talent, but even then most will work hard to focus those skills. In business there are very successful people who have a talent in finding the talent in others, having them do all the work and making some of the sacrifices… but again even these moguls will have bust their arses in their early days before they became more efficient in running their businesses.

So, to end on a bright note… I am happy with the life I have chosen and the path that I follow, I am more confident than ever that there are big things around the corner. I know that those around me who have had to make sacrifices with me will finally get to enjoy the rewards with me.