My parents raised me a set of rules that I’ve passed on to my children. They’re the rules of success, namely, treat everyone with respect, do your best, and do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do. My kids repeat them every night as part of their bedtime routine and we’ve had numerous discussions about them over the years. I think they make for a great foundation. However, maybe there should be a fourth rule: Expect the unexpected.
I think we’d all agree that life can be unfair, that bad things happen to good people. Adversity crosses all of our paths from time to time. I’ve learned that working through those challenges can lead to happiness. When you set a goal and work really hard to achieve it, overcoming some obstacles along the way, the sense of accomplishment is huge and it can fill you with joy.
So respect everyone, do your best, do the right thing, and expect the unexpected. The end result will include both success and happiness.
