From the 8th grade to the Penthouse!

As a good friend, Dwayne Johnson, points out, "Our parents all teach us the same thing: get good grades in school so that you can get into a good college. Do well in college so that you can get a good job with good benefits."

Dwayne is correct; that is indeed what our parents teach us. It's their formula for success. However, most of us are never taught the most important ingredients for the proper formula for success. These include responsibility, self reliance, discipline, courage, commitment, integrity, and good old fashioned work ethic.

Yesterday I met a man that embodies all of these characteristics. Derrick Taylor is 41 years old, and he has an 8th grade education. According to our parents' formula, Derrick must be a miserable failure. A man barely able to speak a complete sentence, much less make anything of himself. WOW, how completely wrong that assessment would be!

Indeed I saw Derrick speak articulately, and motivate a group of 150 small business owners. You see, Derrick is in the top 1% of money earners in the country. He would be as comfortable sitting at the table with kings as he is sitting at the table with anyone of us. He is an engaging, knowledgeable, successful business and family man. How can this possibly be?

The answer is simple. Character! Derrick took responsibility for his life. He started work as a bus boy for a large restaurant chain and worked his way up to regional management. He embarked on a program of self development. Of course, as is the case for all of us, along the way he ran into road blocks and a couple of years ago found himself heavily in debt. Did he wallow in self pity? NO! Did he look for a hand out, or blame the government? NO! He accepted responsibility, learned from his circumstances, looked for an opportunity, showed courage, had commitment, and employed his good old fashioned work ethic.

Today, Derrick earns more in one month than he did in a year as management at the restaurant chain. Some would say he was an overnight success. I say that his character and experience allowed him to take advantage of a fabulous opportunity (in future blogs I will tell you about it).

Life is a journey fraught with obstacles, pitfalls and other assorted challenges and dangers. However, if we have the courage to face them, the foresight to learn from them, the discipline to persistently take action in spite of them, the wisdom to take responsibility, have an unyielding commitment to our hopes dreams and aspirations, and unflailing integrity, then we will live abundant and successful lives.

Abundance

by Carlos Bauta

On a long and painful journey
Life took me for a ride.
Through the grief and misery
You stood calmly by my side.

With fear and trepidation
We started down that road
Over peaks and valleys
You helped and lighten the load.

I am blessed to have been taken
On such a perilous travail.
My mind and soul have strengthened
My spirit freely sails.

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Are you taking responsibility for your life? Are you on a path of self development? Do you have the courage and commitment to change your life? Could you have gone from the 8th grade to the penthouse?

Carlos A. Bauta