Speaking of success in life. I'll share my own success. My own keys to success are underlined.
- My mother raised me in a strict Christian household. I saw my father on the weekends.
- I moved in with my father at age 16, in time to learn lessons only a father can give, before becoming an adult.
- I graduated high school, from vocational school, but already had skills I was developing in computers.
- I got hired into a telephone company at the age of 18 as a temp, taking repair calls.
- I got laid off once, got called back to another department doing directory assistance.
- I got laid off from directory assistance 8 months later.
- I called my old boss in repair and got back in there. I was eventually hired as a full-time employee. Persistence pays off.
- The repair center was done away with and I moved over to taking orders in a different department.
- After eight years, I started to think of advancement. I took electronics and digital tests so I could bid on tech jobs within the company. All sorts of jobs were offered, but I waited until the right one came along.
- I took a tech job in a nearby city, moving there after two years of commuting.
- I worked 22 years in the telecommunications industry, excelling in my profession.
- I accrued debt and paid it off over the years, so I have an excellent credit score.
- After my 30th year (the end of June 2020), I retired at the age of 49 and now live on a pension.
- I'm now pushing 50. No kids, never been married. I live comfortably.
Let's review. Christian faith is a good start. Learn from your mother and father. If you can't learn from them, choose someone you can learn from as a positive influence. Graduate high school. Develop skills around your chosen interests. Understand that the skills you have may lead to a career you never expected. Put yourself out there and get hired. Do your time. Work hard and be dedicated to your profession; being the best you can be. Be persistent in the face of obstacles and navigate around them. Think of advancement in your field. Excel in your profession. Develop a credit score by responsibly accruing and paying off debt. Save for retirement. Plan ahead. Reap the rewards of your work.
There were things I could've done differently.
- I could've paid into a 401k and not touched it.
- I could've saved more. I do have some savings for emergencies.
- I could've taken the lump sum and invested it instead of the pension.
BUT... it wasn't about the money. It was about living a simple comfortable life.
When I was working I made two times what my pension pays me. Before retirement, I planned ahead and paid off most of my debt, so that I would be able to live on a much lower income.
I chose my path, persevered and found success in a profession I never in a million years thought I would be in. My training was on-the-job and through trial and error.
I have been blessed my whole life. I was given a career right out of high school, which I didn't take for granted, even though I hated customer contact. I was blessed with a higher paying tech position, which I rode out for thirty years, growing personally and professionally. I retired happy and stress-free with no regrets.
It can be done and you can do it with a high school diploma. It's about putting in the hard work, paying your dues, putting in your time, so that when the time is right you can move up to bigger and better things. Success takes hard work and dedication, but it doesn't have to be hard if you have the right mindset. It can be a joy in life.
Now for the spiritual growth.
When I was young I wanted to move in with my father because I wanted to break free from my mother and decide for myself what I believe. Having been born and raised into the faith, I didn't have the luxury of freedom of choice. I wanted that freedom.
I spent thirty years away from the faith, looking for God everywhere He wasn't, but in doing so He was there anyway and led me on a path back to Him. At age 46, I came back to God.
Spiritual success is found in Jesus, but we have to do our part to bridge the gap, as it were. We have to recognize the things in our life that are causing us to be separated from God and eliminate them. Whatever it may be. It might be an addiction, or multiple addictions (as was my case). It might be the influences you allow in your life, that are keeping your heart away from God.
Success is understanding we can't do it alone and that we need Jesus to finish the work in our lives.
The biggest lesson I learned is that love is the universal answer to all things. God is love.
