Answers to your questions.

Quite a few emails have been sent to me asking specific questions about success. I’ve decided to publish some of them here. That way, all my readers get to benefit from them.

Marcy from Chicago says:
“Lode, I enjoy your blog, it’s helping me a lot. I just want to know how do you define success?”

Marcy, good question. First of all you’ll have to realize that success is different for everyone. What I consider success may not be for you. And what you think of as being success may not be so for your neighbor. Therefore, defining success on general terms is really not possible. However, defining success on personal terms is. My best suggestion is that you write down everything you aim for (want) in your life. And I mean everything: money, love, car, house, job, kids, husband, jewelry, education, etc.. Once you have that general list, narrow it down to the things you really would like to have in your life. Do not think about the items on the list, rather, go with your heart. When you have that narrow list, look at it and ask yourself this: “Of all the things listed on this list, how many of them do I already have?” Check off, all the ones you’ve already accomplished. Now rate your list. If you have 76% - 100% you have success in your life. If you have 50% - 75% of what’s on the list, you are on the right track. Just stay focused and committed and you’ll get there. If you have less than 50% you need to take a good look at where you’re going and what you’re doing. You may find you are not living “your” life but someone else’s. Hope this helps.

James from Portland asks:
“Lode, even though I am doing well in life, I don’t consider myself to be successful. I have a great career and get paid well. I have a beautiful wife and 3 gorgeous children. Still I feel like there’s something missing!”

James, thanks for the questions. You know, that happens a lot. You see success is not just acquiring material things. Success is more than that, much more. Real success is a combination of material, spiritual, physical and emotional satisfaction. To have true success and feel successful you must have all four. One does not go without the other. Let me ask you a few questions to ponder over that I know will give you the answers you seek and with it the ability to make you feel successful: “Other than your work and your family, do you have a social life? Do you have any friends? Are these the friends you would like to have? Do you believe? If not, would you like to? Are you happy all around? If not, what is causing you unhappiness? Can you change that? Are your children living up to your expectations? If not, are your expectations too high? Do you have harmony in your life outside of your career?
Give those questions a real thought. I’ll bet you’ll come up with answers that will give you an entire new outlook and with it bring you the overall success you are looking for. Good luck.

Carla from Orlando wants to know:
“I want so much to be successful. I am afraid that once I am successful people will see me as greedy or snobbish or something. I guess that’s why I am not successful.”

Dear Carla, excellent point. A lot of people aren’t successful in life because they associate negative feelings with being successful. It’s true there are a lot of snobs out there. You know, people who act obnoxious because they’ve accumulated a bit of wealth. Success is much deeper than that. There is more to it. Success is not just about money. As far as you stopping yourself from becoming successful because of your thoughts and your feelings I can tell you first hand don’t do it. If you are a good person at heart, you’ll stay a good person, even when you are successful. Yes, there is always someone who’s going to try to break you down. That’s life. Don’t let a negative person like that influence you not to be successful. I can think of many people who are famous and extremely rich and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They are compassionate, giving and caring. No money in the world will change them because they are good people at their core. I think you are too. So go out and work on being successful. You deserve it.

Pete from Des Moines asks:
“Lode, once I have success in my life what do I do?”

Pete, this is probably the easiest question to answer. Once you have all the success you want in your life; i.e. material, physical, emotional and spiritual, it’s time to share your success with others. No, that doesn’t mean you now need to give your hard earned money away. What it does mean is that it’s time for you to be a guiding hand to others who are still struggling in life and are looking for a way to be successful. Become their inspiration, share your experiences, and give them a guiding hand. I’ve found that when you do that and you do it completely unselfish without wanting anything in return your success blooms even more.


Hope these few Q & A s are helping my readers. I wish to thank all of you for submitting your questions. And even though I didn’t respond to them here, there are just too many, I will respond to each and every one of your emails personally.

To your success;