Plan Your Happiness
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.“— Benjamin Franklin
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, a business to build, or a summer vacation, it should bring you happiness.
“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” —Abraham Lincoln
It’s so easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks 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.
Something 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 are following your plan, it should all work out splendidly.
“Happiness is not a goal…it’s a by-product of a life well-lived.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Let’s savor our summertime and commemorate our fallen U.S. military this Memorial Day.
Ralph