The Five F’s: Rules for Success
What is success? All of the great philosophies and religions of the world have tried to answer the question. Just walk into the self-help section of a bookstore and you will see dozens, if not hundreds of different opinions about what makes a successful life. And while I cannot promise a complete answer to the question in this short article, I am confident that by following these five rules you will be able to cultivate the kind of life that you want to live.
Faith
I would be nowhere without my Christian faith. It is first on the list because it is of first importance—my faith in Jesus and my life as a Christian are what give me the motivation to continue to pursue excellence. Faith is a very personal thing, and not all readers may share my perspective on the topic. But I am also unapologetic about my Christian beliefs. They have carried me through challenging times, bringing my family together and encouraging us to keep going. My Christianity has pushed me to work hard, not because more money or material success will make me happy on their own, but because my work is a reflection of my love for God and the loved ones that He has surrounded me with.
Fitness
When you are truly invested in your work, it can be hard to find the time for anything else. You might feel that everything else is simply a distraction to the things that matter most. For some, this is an excuse to neglect personal health and hygiene. But if you want to have real success, you must adopt a balanced perspective. We have all heard of the benefits of engaging in some kind of fitness regimen: better sleep, mental sharpness, fewer health complications, and a longer life expectancy. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t need to be convinced because you already know that you should exercise. “I’ll get to it once I have more time” you object. But if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that this almost never works. This is captured in the well-worn cliché, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today.” Though we have heard the phrase a thousand times, it is still clearly true. If we resolve to prioritize fitness once we have time, that moment just might never come. If you haven’t, begin today. You may want to start small and build up from there—but no matter what you do, prioritize consistency.
Family
Family rests in the middle of the five F’s, and for good reason. It is the very heartbeat of a successful life. Those who prioritize family and pursue those lifelong relationships will find themselves far happier than those who go their whole lives without loved ones to support them. For the aspiring young entrepreneur, it might be tempting to strike out on your own, shunning all company and focusing on building up your wealth. But this will not bring satisfaction. On paper, you might be among the most successful, but you will not find what you are looking for. Working to accomplish your personal goals is very commendable, and it is important to have a strong intrinsic motivation if you are going to have any success. But perhaps equally important is the motivation that you will gain from sticking with your family and friends. If you work for their benefit, to be able to support them well, then you will be able to break out of that self-absorbed bubble that so often can trap us.
Finance
With our emphasis on the more intangible parts of success, I must make one thing clear: finances are important. If I did not believe in the power of helping people to find financial freedom, I wouldn’t do the work that I do! And if we can keep the most important values at the forefront, then we will be able to talk about finances in a balanced and helpful way. They are not the end goal—more money will not make you happy. But they are still an important aspect of pursuing success and excellence in everything.
Freedom
At the beginning, I posed a seemingly simple question: “What is success?” I won’t pretend to have all of the answers to that question, but one possible answer might be freedom—freedom to live a meaningful and productive life, surrounded by a network of people that you love and care for. There is no one way to achieve this freedom, but the four other principles I have laid out here will be an excellent start. This has certainly been the case for me. I believe that God has put me on this earth for a purpose, and my goal is to do the best that I can with the resources that He has provided. So I take care of my body by exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. I prioritize my family and do the best that I can to love them well, providing for both their personal and emotional needs as well as for their financial needs. All of these things combined give me a great sense of fulfillment and purpose, and I hope they will help you too.
