We Make Ourselves Strong – A President’s Message

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” Carlos Castaneda

Those of you who have been around for awhile know that I talk about making a lot of calls, and you certainly know that my Dad is a huge advocate of good work habits and putting in a lot of hours. I am well aware that when most people hear talk like that, they start thinking about drudgery and sacrifice and having no life outside of work.

That is incorrect on a couple of different levels. First, I consider work to be fun and rewarding. So when I have to make some sacrifices, such as traveling a lot for work, I do not feel sorry for myself or put upon. Quite the contrary. I feel it is a privilege to get out and see the world, and any inconveniences that I have endured have been well offset by the advantages I have enjoyed.

But beyond that, there is an even larger misconception. Everyone has challenges and sacrifices that we must make. There is no such thing as a stress free life with no costs and all benefits. Every part of life requires trade-offs. If you want more of one thing then you have to do with less of another thing.

So yes, financial success requires hard work and some long hours. But what about the other side of that equation? My contention is that success is hard, but failure is harder. Being dead broke is the hardest job of all.

Paying the price for success means that you will need to work plenty of hours. But at the end of your work day, and during your weekends and vacations, you can relax and enjoy yourself because you know you are doing your best. When you lay your head down at night, you can sleep in peace, because you have a clear conscience and you don’t have to toss and turn from worry.

Being broke, however, is a 24 hour a day job. There is never a break from the stress, guilt and worry that is the handmaiden of poor work habits. There never is a day off when you are in over your head financially.

So give me a full day of work with business problems to solve and challenges to overcome. But send your money problems, bill collectors and bankruptcy lawyers elsewhere. I much prefer dealing with the stress of success than the fear that comes with failure.

President Tom Londen The Londen Companies Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance