“Those Guys” Everywhere You Look
My roommate just got back from a trip to Las Vegas with a group of infopreneuring buddies. He spent 5 days living the high life. They were “those guys.” During the day they were “those guys” on the stage who sold $600,000 worth of information products to a room full of drooling, swooning niche clients. During the night they were “those guys” in the most expensive VIP booth wherever they went. Tito Ortiz, winning UFC fighter, even took the booth next to theirs…the less expensive one.
These guys really lived it up.
When he returned, my roomie got real with me as we caught up on the trip, his highlights, and pointed out something, though.
Success On A Couch
When he got back from this 6-day adventure on the Las Vegas strip, he went over to a buddy’s house and crashed on the couch, watching TV. He mentioned to me that the contrast suddenly hit him; living fast and loud in Las Vegas versus quietly watching tv on the couch in Lakeland, Florida.
He had two thoughts that hit him.
Paraphrased, the first thought was “this is way too slow! Nothing is happening. Is this headed toward success like I want?” The second thought, again paraphrased, was “wait, I have my network here. I am moving real estate here. I have a potent niche here. My friends and now my family are all here. It may be small. It may be slower. But Lakeland, here and now, even on this couch, is my success.”
This got me thinking about a street we have that I like to drive just about every single day. Success Street connects one of our beautiful lakes to another; from Lake Morton to Lake Hollingsworth. It is a very short drive, but it is a beautiful road with well-kept, beautiful homes. I love driving it daily, if nothing more, for the symbolism!
Where Does Success Lie
The thought I had was comparing and contrasting to two. Like my roommate had on the Las Vegas strip, I have had wild trips before. From loud riots in New York and bar-hopping in Key West regularly as a young man and blowing through money, to traveling as an actor, to understudying millionaires, I have had wild and crazy, very fun times. It was very loud and very fast. Many times it was loud. Usually it was fun, and expensive!
But I never felt like I had made it anywhere. The trip would always end. Life would be the same. I still felt unsuccessful and insignificant in the middle of it all.
I wanted change. I wanted improvement. I wanted Success and Significance.
When I realized how unsuccessful and insignificant I felt, I became totally depressed! I have traveled to New York, San Diego, Kansas City, Boston, Atlanta, not to mention (again) circumnavigating the globe trying to find success and significance. It was always fast.
On one particular day when I was 21, however, I realized “it” was right here, right now. I decided in those moments to be successful, to be significant, wherever I found myself. Success and significance were right down the street.
Success Street Is Just Down The Street
What I was reminded of with my conversation with Chad was this powerful lesson I have learned over and over.
Success and Significance are right where you stand, so make it successful and significance.
S & S are rarely fast. They are rarely loud. They are never expensive. They are waiting for you to choose them, to identify them and identify with them, and to enjoy them.
When I first moved to Lakeland and found Success Street, I built that habit of driving it as symbolism, as a reminder of where Success and Significance are found. Yes, I enjoy the fun, wild and crazy trips.
But, I have to remember that in building the life I want, to enjoy the TLE, to feel Success and gain Significance, I need only look and sow right where I stand. You can always enjoy the fast and the loud and the expensive, but I would encourage you to remember to always take a drive down Success Street.
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Photo by Bukowsky18
