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Bigger, Faster, Stronger

Bigger

What would make you consider yourself successful? Is it a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes, higher income? Several problems arise when we consider these units the measure of success.
Each of these contain those deadly letters "ER" for comparison. Whose house do you want yours bigger than? Whose car are you trying to outdo? Who are you trying to out-dress or out-earn? I'm not saying don't pursue bigger and better. I'm just saying that these items and pursuits come with a cost. Ask the people who have these things what it costs them to attain them?
  • How many of their child's school functions did they miss?
  • How much was their marriage strained from working overtime?
  • How much interest did they pay borrowing money?
Eventually, many of us learn that it's the quality of life that matters, not the quantity of stuff in it. The vacation homes, the boat, the cars, the money - it all means much less if we don't have people we care about in our life to enjoy them with. Don't sacrifice getting a bigger title, influence, or salary at the cost of your relationships or self-respect. Bigger isn't always better.

Faster

There's a saying in sports that "speed kills." This is pretty much universally true - the fastest car wins and the fastest player gets open to score or make a defensive stop. But what happens if we define our success solely by the pace it takes us to attain it? Do we think it's too late to not be married? Not have finished our education? Not have this title? Not be making X salary?
I love the analogy often used in the Bible of running a race. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to run the race that is set before us. Maybe that means your race is a 100M sprint, maybe mine is a 5K, and maybe someone else is running a marathon. Each of these races, while similar, require different training, a different pace, and a different amount of time to complete. Stop defining your success by comparing it to someone else's race.
I read a story recently of a man who had attained many goals for himself by the age of 30...only to lose it all by 40. And if I'm completely honest, I would have to admit that I want to achieve many of things he described - money, position, power, and prestige. But what if it's not time yet? What if you don't have all the skills or more importantly, the character, to maintain it?
Waiting is one of the hardest things for any ambitious person to do. But many times, it's in the waiting that we continue to learn new skills, to deepen relationships with others, to develop our character, and continue to mature to be able to handle the most difficult situations.
Speed does kill, but don't let it kill you or your dreams by rushing around the next curve too fast.

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