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CAN CHANGING YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS<br />
MAKE YOU MORE SUCCESSFUL?<br />
SOMEONE ONCE TOLD me their three ingredients<br />
for success were patience, perseverance and luck. I<br />
suppose this can be applied to any profession. But<br />
my wish is for readers of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Connect</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> to<br />
challenge and redefine their definitions of success.<br />
I was raised by an incredibly strong single mother. I<br />
remember asking myself as a kid, “Why does my mother<br />
have to work two or three jobs just so we can eat?” Despite<br />
how difficult it was, she always encouraged my siblings and<br />
me to make good decisions and “aim for the stars.” I recall<br />
her telling me that I could do anything - if and only if - I put<br />
my mind to it.<br />
While growing up, I didn’t realize how powerful her<br />
words would prove to be. I made some poor decisions in<br />
my youth, but I believe those mistakes were the building<br />
blocks to my success. I clearly remember my loving mother<br />
repeating her three ingredients for becoming successful: First,<br />
she told me to always take care of my children and “Don’t be<br />
like your daddy.” (I heard this one quite often.) Second, she<br />
instructed me to secure a respectable job and focus on myself.<br />
Third, she told me to take care of my wife so that she would<br />
never have to work as hard as my mother did.<br />
Those are all great traits to have and I somehow assumed<br />
if I followed them, I would live a “successful” life. I learned<br />
it isn’t so simple.<br />
My world changed drastically several years ago when a<br />
good friend challenged my definition of success. He asked<br />
me, “Eric, What’s your purpose and passion?” I was so<br />
focused on living a “successful” life that I had no idea what I<br />
was meant to accomplish while on Earth.<br />
After some thought and more living, I realized success is<br />
more than having a certain amount in your bank account or<br />
reaching a particular career height. Successful living to me,<br />
in the broadest sense, means a life led by my spirit, being<br />
unafraid to try for new opportunities, spending time with<br />
those I most care about and living without regrets. In the<br />
Christian Bible, Matthew 16:26 says: “For what will it profit a<br />
man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what<br />
shall a man give in return for his soul?” I live by this concept.<br />
Taking a bold leap of faith while listening to the whisper<br />
of my spirit was my first step toward living a successful life.<br />
Starting <strong>The</strong> <strong>Connect</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> has been one of the most<br />
rewarding endeavors I’ve ever been a part of. Changing<br />
lives, creating jobs, building communities and speaking to<br />
souls are all priceless endeavors, which is why I continue to<br />
enjoy working with individuals such as my Managing Editor<br />
Lacey Johnson. We both share the same passion and love for<br />
believing in the greater good and empowering others. This is<br />
invaluable to me.<br />
Looking back, if that same friend were to ask me my<br />
three ingredients for success, I would now say to him, with<br />
confidence: First, believe in something more powerful<br />
than you. Second, trust the process. And, finally, surround<br />
yourself with only positive and uplifting people.<br />
I believe it is more important to keep your focus on your<br />
long-term goals than to profit immediately by nickel-anddiming<br />
your customers to death. I pride myself on giving<br />
our readers, who are still becoming acquainted with us,<br />
inspiration and valuable information - for free. I am also<br />
grateful to my mother, who taught me the importance of<br />
loving and respecting others.<br />
I’ll conclude this message with a quote by Vincent Van<br />
Gogh: “Love many things, for therein lies the true strength,<br />
and whosoever loves much performs much, and can<br />
accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.”<br />
CEO/PUBLISHER<br />
THECONNECTMAGAZINE.COM<br />
SUMMER <strong>2017</strong> | THE CONNECT MAGAZINE 5