Everybody knows that money can’t buy happiness.  Still, ask people what success means, or ask them to identify successful people, and nine out of ten times wealth will be a significant factor.

I’m not sure why that is.  I guess we really are superficial enough in this society to think that the cost of one’s car, the brand of one’s watch, the label on one’s clothes and the neighbourhood one’s house is in is what defines success.

This is so wrong.

Now, I know that I should be spending a lot more time and many more words before I roll out this important secret.  Post maybe 10 are 12 articles over a couple of months.  Build the suspense.  Keep you reading.  Suck you in.  Well, please.  This ain’t exactly rocket science.  The secret to success is balance.  That’s all.  Balance.  And, as an aside, I have a friend who is a rocket scientist.  He tells me that rocket science isn’t really rocket science, either.  Basically, the pointy end goes up.  You light the other end.  All the rest is mere detail.

‘Course, we all know that the devil is in the details and if success was so darned easy we’d all be successful.  And you know what?  We can be.  Successful, that is.  We can’t all be a rocket scientists…which is probably a very good thing.  Somebody has to grow the potatoes.

This blog is all about success: the strategies and tactics we need to employ to be successful in all aspects of our lives.  Not just money, although making thoughtful decisions about money…and how to make, invest and spend it…will be a major theme here.  Not just health, although a healthy diet, weight loss, fitness and preventing illness will be a pretty common topic as well.  Not just family, although family roles and relationships will inevitably be a part of this.  Not just work, although how can we not talk about that?  Not just citizenship, although social action and playing a positive role in the community will be discussed as well.  We’ll probably end up looking at personal growth a bit, relationships, and whatever else comes up as a new readers discover this blog, post their comments and make suggestions.

Ultimately, success leads to happiness.  And is there any reason to be on this planet if we aren’t happy? 

So let’s unearth the strategies.  Unwrap the tactics.  Developed the plan.  Get going!

Here’s to success!

This Post’s Success Tactic

I love this tactic, because it hits on money, health, fitness, illness, relationships, community – everything!  Here’s the thing, though.  It only works if you’re still smoking.  Here’s the tactic.

STOP SMOKING!

Bet you’ve heard this before.  But it’s an amazingly powerful tactic.  First, given that one in two smokers will get hit with a horrible smoking-related disease, like lung cancer or congestive heart failure, stopping now will mean you’ll live longer – and more healthily.  I won’t even go into what your smoking is doing to those around you.  Nothing worse than getting lung cancer because your spouse..or your dad…smokes!

Second, if you live in British Columbia (for example) a pack-a-day habit is going to cost you over $3500 a year.  Think you could find a use for an extra three hundred after-tax dollars in your pocket every month?  In a later series of posts about financial planning and money management we’re going to track down a bunch of other ways you let your hard-earned cash dribble away for no good reason – but here’s a preview.  $3500 a year?  After tax?  You’re looking at a gold mine there, my friend.  BUTT OUT, NOW!

Third, you don’t know it, because you’re the one smoking…but…you stink!  Like, really bad.  Just hope the guy or girl you’re flirting with is smoking too, because you’re just gag city.  Truly.  You don’t know how bad it is until you’ve stopped for a while.

Fourth, smokers drive the cost of health care through the roof – for everybody.  Here in Canada, we have universal health care (sort of) and smokers put a huge extra burden on an already overloaded and resource-strapped system.  Some doctors are refusing to treat patients who are smokers.  There’ll be more of that, for sure, as time goes on.  Even your life insurance rates are higher…lots higher…if you smoke.

So.  Smarten up.  A big…not easy but big…step to success is to stop smoking.  It just weighs you down in too many ways.  Your friends, family, co-workers and neighbours, too.

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