SUCCESS OR SIGNIFICANCE?

I have spent a considerable amount of time the past few days preparing to hire a very compassionate, bright, and energetic lady to help our members reach their health and fitness goals. Part of this hiring process has been making sure I have the proper policies and procedures in place. Making sure our Core Values and team culture are prominent and understood. It's crucial that our team members understand that it's not about what we do here, it's about why we do it.

As I was reviewing the opening paragraphs, I remembered something I read several years ago by John Maxwell, a motivational speaker, author, and pastor whose writings and talks I continue to follow. It was about the difference of being successful and being significant. And while I don't recall his exact words, it went something like this: People who want to be successful add value to themselves; a person of significance adds value to others.

And significance is what we strive for every day at our small fitness facility by helping others live better lives. It's the reason we don't have personal trainers like other gyms. We have Success Coaches. Coaches collaborate with their clients, and provide technical help, social support, and individual challenges. It's not just about helping you lose 30 pounds or increasing your strength to do a pull-up. Those are the "whats". Those "whats" let others know what we are.

It is about being able to teach and play with your kids and grandkids without becoming exhausted. It's about taking a hiking excursion to Tibet and Nepal with your 88 year old best friend. It's about helping others discover they have the skills and confidence to achieve anything they want. These are the "whys". These "whys" define who we are.

People of significance come from all walks of life. You don't need to be wealthy or hold a high-titled position within your company to have an impact on others. Heck, you don't even have to be an adult. I am very blessed to have an amazing daughter. Emily is very intelligent, and consistently wins awards for her scholastic accomplishments. But one of my proudest memories happened about 3 years ago when she was recognized by her teachers for taking time almost every day to help a challenged student with her assignments and maximize her potential. Emily added value to that other girl's life!

Let's remember: we are only on this Earth for a limited amount of time. And our success dies when we do. But the impact we can have on others will live far beyond our mortality. Every day, every one of us should strive to move beyond making ourselves successful and create significance for others.