I see myself as this all-American boy who was driven by his dreams of being successful and making money, as we all have done, but that should not be the most important thing to happen to anyone. Moreover, this ordinary boy vowed to produce extraordinary things that labeled me as an achiever. However, that ‘success design’ came with a high price tag because anything worthwhile means sacrifice, a labeling of commitment, and a profound manner of discipline. From my time spent in the war to my 34-year career with the city of Chicago, I mapped out a strategy for my continued success. I know in my heart that my achievements were not easy as I encountered many obstacles where some were mountainous, and others were narrow and pitted with valleys.
Nevertheless, I made sure that the holes I dug for myself weren’t so deep that I couldn’t get out, even though there were times when that happened despite my well-thought-out life agenda. In short, I’ve had help, but always the support that brought me to pause and taught me the lesson of never giving up because my life had to be mine to claim!
To give titles to my successes is not a compelling incentive without first realizing that whatever is pursued must become your completion. Always complete whatever you start, and then start again with something new and challenging. The titles in life are what you achieved, but not who you have become that others tend to see even quicker than those titles. It’s the image of who you are and not the title of what you do or did that impress folk the most. If you can’t look at that image in the mirror without frowning and faltering quietly, your surprise will continue to be crippling both physically and emotionally. So, stay the course of ‘resistance’ because that will be the infrastructure that holds all things together and teaches you the skill of ‘Life Navigation!’