July 9

This week I have been thinking a lot about prosperity and success. Propsperity, these days, seems to be tied to making a lot of money or having a lot of stuff. I suppose that is one definition of prosperity. But prosperity, in its root sensse meetings growth. When something prospers it grows. It might be a relationship, a non-profit endeavor, a hobby, or a career.

It occurred to me that there are five keys for prosperity or success in anything you do. The first is that you must love what you do and the process to get to it. So, if you really want a relationship to prosper you must love the person and also the things that you do to build the relationship. If you want your career to prosper, you must love what you do and the process of doing it. If you don't love it, it will not prosper.

The second is you must separate your identity and self-worth from whatever you want to prosper. This may seem odd at first, but it is critical. If you have your self-worth tied up in something then it is hard to look objectively at it.

The third is you must be curious about it. What makes it work, how do I do it better, what are the little things that make it work right.

The fourth is you must nurture it. Nothing grows unless you nurture it.

The fifth is you must be persistent. Nothing will prosper unless you keep at it.

See you in a couple of days.