The Dirty Little Secret

10-03-2025

Successful lessons are often ignored.

Most of life’s secrets have already been taught. Yet most of us have either ignored or dismissed what we’ve heard. Some of that information has also been forgotten, and some information we have been given is unfortunately wrong! Yet the dirty little secret is that success is within reach if we choose to apply the knowledge we gain daily.

Lessons arrive in unexpected ways.

Back when we had cats, on most mornings when I got to my computer, at least one of our cats would run to my office and jump on my desk, begging for attention and wanting to be brushed. I had a brush by my keyboard, and she would stand in front of my computer screen, blocking my view and rubbing up against me, my printer, and everything in front of me. She wanted attention and drooled when it was given!  Ahh, a life lesson even from a cat. Attention is something we all seek. Everyone human on the planet has a voice of some kind; people want to be heard! Yet, how many people do you think are willing to stop and listen? When we slow down, we see interruptions as the true purpose of our day.

Time remains our greatest asset.

Time is a commodity we all own! It does not matter how rich you are or how poor you might be; we all have been allotted a certain amount of time in our lives. The question is, how are we spending this time?

Likewise, it is unfortunate in modern society that our collective attention span is about a nanosecond. If you are a guy and married, how often have you heard your spouse say, “I just want to spend quality time with you?” If you are a parent, how frequently have you stopped to realize just how fast your children are growing up, and how little time you seem to spend with them?

Time is the one resource every person owns. Wealth does not increase the hours we receive. The question becomes: are you mastering time or becoming a victim of it? Small choices each day reveal the answer. Don’t be the person who says, “If I just had enough time, I would…”

First impressions shape outcomes.

Research shows decisions are formed within seven seconds of meeting someone. What you say, or do not say, creates lasting impressions. This hidden reality shapes relationships, opportunity, and ultimately, how others perceive your path to success.

Redefining success matters deeply.

Our success, seeing ourselves as winners or losers, in large part, is determined not by some outside force beyond our control.  No, my friend, if you think that, then you have heard it all wrong. Success, your success, is determined by you! In our society, we have such a screwed up vision of things, mainly driven by others telling us what we should want and need, versus thinking for ourselves and charting our course.

Success is not fame, nor is it a fortune, nor is it being able to claim you are a millionaire. Trust me, there are plenty of millionaires that are just as pathetic and miserable as any person you might look down upon and think they are nobody.

Achieving success or living the life you deserve has more to do with eliminating the “mind viruses” that have infected us as individuals. When was the last time you performed a scan of your life? Like most computer virus scan programs, when it is completed, a report is displayed asking you what you want to do next. After all, life is all about choices.  Are you going to hit ignore or press the button to fix or quarantine the things you need to get rid of altogether?

The dirty little secret revealed.

Authenticity beats appearances! A solid wood counter differs significantly from a thin veneer. Likewise, pretending to be someone else creates fragile foundations. The best version of success is living authentically. A mile wide and an inch deep will never last long.

The truth is simple: your best self already exists. Do not wait for tomorrow, because change starts today. By valuing time, seeking authenticity, and embracing personal growth, you uncover the dirty little secret that lasting success has always been within you.

To learn more, visit the blog life, reflection, and faith.