Let me tell you about two friends who shared the same dream.
Both wanted to build a successful business that would change the world. Alex became obsessed with the end goal, the fancy office, the headlines, the wealth. Every day was just a hurdle to overcome, every meeting an obstacle to push through. “I’ll be happy when I make it,” became his daily mantra.
But then there was Maya. She approached her journey differently. She found joy in late-night brainstorming sessions with her team. She celebrated small wins – their first customer, their first thank-you note, even their first mistake that taught them a valuable lesson. While building her company, she built relationships, collected moments, and gathered stories.
Five years later, both achieved what they’d dreamed of. Their companies were successful beyond imagination.
Alex stood in his penthouse office, overlooking the city. Everything he’d wished for was his. Yet something felt strangely empty. He had success, but no meaningful stories to share, no friendships to celebrate with, no beautiful moments to look back on. Just a checklist of completed goals.
Maya’s success felt different. When people asked about her journey, her eyes would light up with countless stories – the nervous pitch that turned into a lifelong client relationship, the failed product that led to their biggest breakthrough, the team celebrations that became cherished traditions.
Same destination. Different stories.
See, life has a funny way of teaching us that happiness isn’t waiting at some finish line. It’s not hidden in corner offices or bank accounts. It’s sprinkled along the path we walk – in the people we meet, the lessons we learn, and even the obstacles we overcome.
The truth is, success without joy is just an empty achievement. But when you learn to love the journey, every step becomes part of your story. And those stories? They’re what make life rich.
So ask yourself: Are you rushing through your chapters to reach the end, or are you taking time to live each page?
Because one day, you’ll reach that goal you’re chasing. And when you do, it’s not the achievement that will warm your heart – it’s the story of how you got there.