Plan What Makes You Happy
“Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” —Margaret Lee Runbeck
Summertime is when we take breaks from our daily activities and work. It’s a time when we plan new ventures both for our businesses and our vacations. We only get one life, one journey, where we decide how we are going to spend our time. Whatever you decide to do for a living, what kind of business you build, or a summer vacation you take, it should bring you happiness. “Happiness is not having great possessions but having fewer wants.” – Epictetus
It’s so easy to get caught up in the mundane task of doing and producing, as if it’s our only choice. Take time out to figure out what you want to do. Time goes by so quickly, and it is up to us to make sure we have no regrets about not doing the things that matter.
One summer my daughter decided to open a lemonade stand with her best friend. Oh, to be a kid again. I took the two of them to the store to buy all the necessary ingredients. They, of course, wanted matching cups and designer napkins. After a few hours of selling their lemonade, they excitedly wrapped up their enterprise. The girls rushed home to count their earnings. They had made $20. I pulled out the supermarket receipt and showed them that the cost of their goods purchased was $20. They had just broken even. The news was received with blank stares on their faces. They were not prepared for the cost-of-doing-business reality. There I was, teaching my 8-year-old daughter about being a businesswoman. What a way to spoil their fun.
As an owner of many successful businesses, one of the first things I think about before launching a new business is the profitability. Of course, there are many factors to consider, such as, if there is a demand, is there stiff competition and is the idea sustainable. For my daughter and her friend, their business was about the experience of having friends come taste their drinks, not about the money.
A part of article I read in Success Magazine struck a chord with me. “It’s not the time you invest; it’s the investment you make in the time you spend, with those you care about, that makes the difference.” The article continued to point out that we can’t leave creating a great time and wonderful memories to chance. We need to weave the tapestry of a wonderful experience through great design and planning. This works for life, relationships, and in business.
Don’t worry and stress yourself about making the right choices. If you set your goals and follow your plan, it should all work out splendidly.
Ralph