“I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure.” – John D. Rockefeller
Illicit sex and moral laxity are more readily accepted in our culture than they should be. The implications of this permissiveness go far deeper than one might think. Anything that ignites our desires and passions to the detriment of our good judgment and common sense could be considered a harlot who would potentially steal our heart and fracture our life.
Who or what is the harlot that wants to steal your life? What is it that has potential to bring ruin upon you if you give in to its unhealthy attraction? It might be sex, food, drugs, lust for power or influence – maybe it is ambition. The very definition of an addiction is a compulsion to embrace destructive behavior despite its detrimental effects. We have seen this weakness illustrated time and again in the lives of famous men and women who are consumed by some uncontrolled appetite. Is there anything in your life that you find yourself doing no matter how bad the potential consequences may be?
We don’t usually set out to destroy our self. More than likely, we are just trying to have a good time or escape the pressures of our life for a while by having a little fun. Years ago in Wheeling, WV I met a brilliant flame that burned out too early; his name was Roger Miller. Backstage, Roger was about to go out for a performance. He was drunk and smoking like a house on fire. Roger was a man of great musical talent and humor – a gifted individual, but just a few short years later he was dead of cancer at the age of 56. His untimely death was undoubtedly hastened by his bad habits and a fast life lived on the road. What a tragic waste! All the talent in the world could not overcome the harlot of hard living and the reckless pursuit of pleasure.
If we have a clear mission in our life we will not be easily distracted by the sideshows along the way. A lot of leaders push themselves very hard most of the time and in that environment it is easy to tell yourself that you deserve a little break from the pressure. I agree with that philosophy; work hard and play hard. The problems come in the choice of our play. Take time to relax and give yourself some margin, by all means, but don’t do something stupid that could erase all your hard work up to now.
Find appropriate outlets for your recreation that will let you slow down and enjoy yourself but that do not have the potential to destroy you. Take time to think, rest, reflect and enjoy others – all with the thought of building yourself up, not tearing yourself down.
“Don’t give in to your unseemly passions. Learn to have fun without letting it become wreck-reation.”
Friday, January 22, 2010
Flat Tire on the Fast Track
“He that can have patience can have what he will.” - Benjamin Franklin
An acquaintance of mine bought one of the first DeLoreans to come off the assembly line. It used to belong to John DeLorean himself but he had to give it up. You have probably heard the story of DeLorean’s amazing rise to success in the auto industry with development of the Pontiac GTO and then later his own car make named after himself. But he lost it all; his family, his business and yes, even his car, because he went too far too fast in his pursuit of success. Patience was not a virtue in the fast paced auto industry in which the young and ambitious DeLorean circulated and it may not be in the circles you travel either. Impatience was a major factor in bringing about his downfall; will it bring you down?
What you may not know is that John DeLorean had a major philosophical life-change when he hit the speed bumps of life and reinvented himself as a new person. I think it is safe to say that John learned the truth late in life after he had almost given himself away to his debtors and strangers while traveling down the fast track searching for fame and success.
A very successful and wise businessman once warned me that “you do not go into business but you grow into business.” Take time to build what you want very carefully and thoroughly so it is solid and will resist the bumps in the road that all new ventures inevitably face.
It is never too late to throw our life into reverse if we detect that we are travelling too fast or are on the wrong road. Have courage today. Slow down. Be honest with yourself and work to develop the patience you need to build your own success over time. When we see a door of opportunity, there is nothing wrong with turning the doorknob to see if it will open but a lot of heartache can follow if we break down a door that is locked. I have learned some bitter lessons when I have done this. Being in a hurry to create my success also places a burden on me to sustain that which I have created. On the other hand, when a door is open and I am allowed to go through it without force, I can rest in the knowledge that the timing is correct and the other supporting factors on which I depend are also in place.
“Patiently wait for your success and the results will be greater than you could ever create through the force of your will.”
An acquaintance of mine bought one of the first DeLoreans to come off the assembly line. It used to belong to John DeLorean himself but he had to give it up. You have probably heard the story of DeLorean’s amazing rise to success in the auto industry with development of the Pontiac GTO and then later his own car make named after himself. But he lost it all; his family, his business and yes, even his car, because he went too far too fast in his pursuit of success. Patience was not a virtue in the fast paced auto industry in which the young and ambitious DeLorean circulated and it may not be in the circles you travel either. Impatience was a major factor in bringing about his downfall; will it bring you down?
What you may not know is that John DeLorean had a major philosophical life-change when he hit the speed bumps of life and reinvented himself as a new person. I think it is safe to say that John learned the truth late in life after he had almost given himself away to his debtors and strangers while traveling down the fast track searching for fame and success.
A very successful and wise businessman once warned me that “you do not go into business but you grow into business.” Take time to build what you want very carefully and thoroughly so it is solid and will resist the bumps in the road that all new ventures inevitably face.
It is never too late to throw our life into reverse if we detect that we are travelling too fast or are on the wrong road. Have courage today. Slow down. Be honest with yourself and work to develop the patience you need to build your own success over time. When we see a door of opportunity, there is nothing wrong with turning the doorknob to see if it will open but a lot of heartache can follow if we break down a door that is locked. I have learned some bitter lessons when I have done this. Being in a hurry to create my success also places a burden on me to sustain that which I have created. On the other hand, when a door is open and I am allowed to go through it without force, I can rest in the knowledge that the timing is correct and the other supporting factors on which I depend are also in place.
“Patiently wait for your success and the results will be greater than you could ever create through the force of your will.”
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