The Story of Big Jim

The power went out. Again!

I looked out my second story office window and knew exactly why. I could hear the sounds throughout the morning. This crew of 4 men and 3 bucket trucks stringing power lines along the new poles they had been planting in the front and back yards of my neighborhood the past few weeks.

Often during this time, I would be working on my laptop on the front porch and watched this professional teamwork in total synchronicity, moving from pole to pole in planned sequence. First it was connecting the phone lines. Then, cable. Today, and finally, from the back alley, the electricity.

What was of extreme interest to me was the foreman of this well- oiled machine. A big, burly middle-aged fellow whose sheer stature and hard look would intimidate most. But, he always uttered his commands, some very loudly as his underlings were often thirty-five feet in the air, with warm authority.

You could tell his crew really liked and had great respect for him. Although this was far from your typical 'lean on your shovel' squad, they still joked while working at a well-managed pace. Bossman, whose job description no doubt mandated a no hands-on, no physical labor approach, was always doing something to speed things along, be it picking up refuse or spooling wire. In fact, while they were in the process of connecting my power, guess who was pruning the overgrown pine tree branches in my backyard to make it easier for his boys?

It was at this point that I brought my high-wire friends a sampling of my special blend coffee (I prepared this, just prior to 'lights out'), reserved usually for special company. Setting a tray down on the patio table, I engaged 'Jim' in conversation and remarked how much I enjoyed watching them work and how much it reminded me of my great production team when I owned a drycleaning business. Another well-oiled, and fun to run machine.

His sun-hardened face beamed with pride as he began telling me about what a great group of guys he had and how they were the most productive crew in this large company.

No wonder!

Our conversation was not a long one. Jim had to get his boys back to the matter at hand, and that was to get my power back. But it served to make me think that here was a man who loved what he does, made a positive impact on those around him and earned the sincere respect of those under, and, above him. I could only surmise that Jim also had a great family life.

Why do I tell this story? Simple. It's a simple story of real success! No, Jim is not famous. Probably never will be. Nor is he rich as I could tell, or any of those things that people usually associate with the term 'success.' If this man won the lottery today I'd bet the farm he'd be planting poles and stringing wire and having fun with his crew the very next week. He is, judging by my brief encounter with him, a simple man who possesses one of the true keys of success: He loves what he does!

Let me ask you this? Are you doing what you love? Are you having fun with your 'job'? Do you feel a real sense of purpose and genuine passion for what you are offering people, be it your labor, your customers or your employees? Do you bring those people around you the great value that they deserve and that you are capable of giving? Are you respected by those around you for what you do? Are you, well, happy?

Let me assure you, if you answered "no" to any of the above questions, it's far from too late to change everything in your life!

In my top-selling eBook, Success: A Spiritual Matter, I had the extreme honor of interviewing 14 very successful entrepreneurs. One of those, Paul Lemberg, offered this: "Make sure your work is personally meaningful. If it's not ? change what you're doing!" He continues, "Figure out what your purpose is. Not a purpose for you to shellac to a piece of wood and put on the wall. Not a purpose like a check box for your business plan. But a purpose like "what are you here on earth for?" That kind of purpose."

One of the famous quotes of legendary Jim Rohn goes like this: "Turn your vocation into your vacation."

One of the highlights of putting Success: A Spiritual Matter together was conducting a live interview with Jim Rohn. He made this amazing statement: "Beware of the thief on the street that's after your purse. But also be aware of the thief in your mind that's after your promise."

Don't let that thief steal your promise and keep from the world everything that you have to offer. You CAN do what you love. You CAN start right now.

Contemporary mythologist, Joseph Campbell, offers 3 words as the number one rule of life, which pervades all cultures and religions: "Follow Your Bliss".

Isn't it about time that you followed yours?

© Rick Beneteau

Rick is co-creator of the breakthrough Make Every Day A Great Day Program. Read the powerful, life-changing testimonials and discover how this revolutionary product can dramatically change Your Life too!: http://www.MakeEveryDayAGreatDay.com/yes

---

Top 10 Miraculous Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal

In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary... Read More

If NASA Can Launch The Space Shuttle, Then You Can Become A Successnaut

The recent mission of the space shuttle Discovery is NASA's... Read More

What Are the Nine Bodyparts of a Better Life?

Your Head, think about what you want and move towards... Read More

Success: By The Numbers

What is "success"? Why does it seem everyone wants "success"?... Read More

Who Else Wants to Keep Failing?

Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More

Identify Those Things That Have Prevented You From Being Successful And Learn How To Avoid Them Now

Have you been struggling for years to accomplish some goals... Read More

Lifetime Success Key: Get a Life...

I was talking about my business to a stranger the... Read More

A Little Equation that Creates Big Results

The purpose of man is in action not thought -... Read More

Success Secrets of The Rich - Are Rich People Lucky?

I've just sent an email to my mailing list based... Read More

Sticktoitivity: Lessons Learned!

Walt Disney coined a special phrase for persistence and determination;... Read More

Falling Up the Stairs

There have been a lot of really good movies made... Read More

Filling Your Bucket - How Negativity Can Make Or Break Your Business and Personal Success!

I received an advanced copy of a book called How... Read More

Try Honesty as a System of Trust, Success Will Follow

Trust is a cornerstone of human existence. It is interesting... Read More

Do You Want to Just Survive or Thrive? (Part 2)

"Fighting to pay the bills is hardly worth it? fight... Read More

More Effective Communication - Weight Loss For Your Mouth

Language constitutes our belief system. What we believe is true... Read More

Thoughts on Successful People

I was hired to do some training for a sales... Read More

IF and WHEN

IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and... Read More

Your Money or Your Life!

Quote of the month: Am I working to live or... Read More

Do You Know Your Success Barriers?

I can tell, with 95% accuracy, if you are going... Read More

Small But Mighty!

When most of us are asked the most important possession... Read More

What if You Fed Your Mind as Often as You Feed Your Stomach?

Many people consider reading books a waste of time. It... Read More

How To Prepare Yourself Mentally For Success

Okay, so you've finally made that big decision to start... Read More

Create A Realistic Plan For Your Success

Success is the most desired ambition of the human beings.... Read More

15 Success Secrets Of The Strongest Men In The World

The 2004 final of the World's Strongest Man METRx Championship... Read More

Preparing For Your Success

When is the best time to prepare for your success... Read More

Leave a Legacy

What do Sam Walton, Ray Kroc, Hilton, Marriot, Firestone, Elvis... Read More

Bring on the Boosters!

Nobody becomes a success alone, period. There is no such... Read More

What is Success Really?

Every single one of us is trying to reach success.... Read More

Creating an Action Plan

So you've bought into the idea that you need to... Read More

A Recipe for Living

As a professional speaker, father and business owner I often... Read More

What Is Your Legacy of Success?

Success! Easy to talk about, but difficult to achieve. Or... Read More

Dealing with Difficult People--Go Ahead, Rain on My Parade

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather... Read More

Shortest Path To Success!

Thoughts move faster than the speed of light.Expectations jump faster... Read More