Which came first? Success? or Money?

My friend Chris Yuen and I will get together for coffee and brainstorm about different business opportunities. We'd toss out to each other things we've heard or things we've seen other people doing. Beyond this stuff, we talk about our goals. Trying to narrow down what we want. In these talks, I've come to learn that it really isn't about what business can make us the most money. We got it backwards. You can make tons of money at anything. As long as you are successful at it.

This discovery came after listening to "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale. I bought the download around Christmas. And I've been listening almost everyday since. Earl Nightingale explains that most people believe making a lot of money makes you successful. He clarifies this misconception by explaining that you must be successful first, before you make money. I'll use my friend Jason Gee as an example. Jay is a successful Farmers Insurance agent. He also earns a ton of money. I ask you this: Did Jay earn a ton of money before he became a successful insurance agent? or Did he earn a ton of money because he is a successful insurance agent? What do you think?


Being successful does not mean making a lot of money. Being successful means being great at what you do. Whatever it is you do. Money is just a by-product of success. Like poop is a by-product of what you just ate. The more successful you are at what you do, the more money you will make. Focus on being the best at what you do. The money will come.

I recently started working for Comcast Communications. Door to door selling. I went from zero sales in my first month to being the #1 salesman on my team in the next month. I haven't seen a dime of my #1 status yet. The money will come in the next couple paychecks. There is still a lot that I need to work on to be the best salesman at Comcast. I still have to get better at my presentation to customers. Still need to know what the competition offers. Still need to be able to give my customers the feeling of confidence in me. Man! How did I end up #1 for January 2008?

When I make the changes to my sales career, will I become successful? When I'm a successful salesman, will I earn a ton of money?

How good are you at your job? Would you consider yourself successful at what you do? What are 2 or 3 things you can work on today to make you successful? I'm sure you already know what you need to do.

Remember: Money follows Success!