What's the most important thing you've ever earned? Think about it for a minute.
What in your life of 'value' have you worked for and earned? Your degree.
Your career.
Your income.
Your home.
Your family.
Your relationships.
Your championship ring.
Your freedom.
These are things with varying degrees of importance and long-term value, but consider this: The harder/smarter you work to earn something, the more valuable it becomes to you.
And, conversely, the less work or sweat you put into something, the less value it holds.
Let's recall an essential life-truth.
Life is not about what you GET, but rather, the true measure of a successful life - in this life and in the next - is what you BECOME.
And what you become is in large measure a collection of the values, knowledge, and relationships you develop.
Stuff - things - might come for free.
We might get lucky and win the lottery or the sweepstakes, but those don't create value.
Values have a price, and if you want to become great, it's important to work for and pay fairly for every value.
In the process of becoming, properly paying for and earning something is fundamental.
You cannot just command friendship, love, or respect - they have to be paid for, earned.
Here, you can quote me: If it comes for free, it makes nothing of me.
It's a reality that makes us great, and if forgotten or discarded, weakens us.
And it's true for each of us as individuals, or as couples, families, communities, or as a nation.
We must define and pursue values, and those values must be won by contest.
They must be fought for and earned.
And after they have been earned, they must be protected.
To the extent that we ignore values, or fail to develop them, we become weak.
If you value fitness and health, but discard the efforts and disciplines necessary to develop them, you don't achieve fitness and health.
And of course, this applies to the other areas of value.
Families break down because couples fail to define and pursue values that create and build strong families.
And consequently, as families go, communities go; and ultimately - so goes our great nation.
I like what the great business philosopher, Jim Rohn said on this subject: "Don't sell out your virtue and your value for something you think you want.
Judas got the money, but he threw it all away and hung himself because he was so unhappy with himself.
Count the cost first.
Don't pay too big a price for pursuing minor values.
" In conclusion, they are called values because they have 'value.
' They have a cost, and in many cases, the cost is quite high.
(We've paid dearly for the very freedoms that support our country).
Nothing of true value is free.
If values were free, everyone would have them.
But values are designed to be pricey.
So, if you are finding yourself wanting to improve your life, your family, your country, count the cost to achieve the goal and ask yourself how much you're willing to work.
What effort are you willing to expend? Greatness exacts its price, so if you want excellence or greatness in any area of your life - be prepared to pay the price.
And once you do, you'll truly appreciate the value.
What in your life of 'value' have you worked for and earned? Your degree.
Your career.
Your income.
Your home.
Your family.
Your relationships.
Your championship ring.
Your freedom.
These are things with varying degrees of importance and long-term value, but consider this: The harder/smarter you work to earn something, the more valuable it becomes to you.
And, conversely, the less work or sweat you put into something, the less value it holds.
Let's recall an essential life-truth.
Life is not about what you GET, but rather, the true measure of a successful life - in this life and in the next - is what you BECOME.
And what you become is in large measure a collection of the values, knowledge, and relationships you develop.
Stuff - things - might come for free.
We might get lucky and win the lottery or the sweepstakes, but those don't create value.
Values have a price, and if you want to become great, it's important to work for and pay fairly for every value.
In the process of becoming, properly paying for and earning something is fundamental.
You cannot just command friendship, love, or respect - they have to be paid for, earned.
Here, you can quote me: If it comes for free, it makes nothing of me.
It's a reality that makes us great, and if forgotten or discarded, weakens us.
And it's true for each of us as individuals, or as couples, families, communities, or as a nation.
We must define and pursue values, and those values must be won by contest.
They must be fought for and earned.
And after they have been earned, they must be protected.
To the extent that we ignore values, or fail to develop them, we become weak.
If you value fitness and health, but discard the efforts and disciplines necessary to develop them, you don't achieve fitness and health.
And of course, this applies to the other areas of value.
Families break down because couples fail to define and pursue values that create and build strong families.
And consequently, as families go, communities go; and ultimately - so goes our great nation.
I like what the great business philosopher, Jim Rohn said on this subject: "Don't sell out your virtue and your value for something you think you want.
Judas got the money, but he threw it all away and hung himself because he was so unhappy with himself.
Count the cost first.
Don't pay too big a price for pursuing minor values.
" In conclusion, they are called values because they have 'value.
' They have a cost, and in many cases, the cost is quite high.
(We've paid dearly for the very freedoms that support our country).
Nothing of true value is free.
If values were free, everyone would have them.
But values are designed to be pricey.
So, if you are finding yourself wanting to improve your life, your family, your country, count the cost to achieve the goal and ask yourself how much you're willing to work.
What effort are you willing to expend? Greatness exacts its price, so if you want excellence or greatness in any area of your life - be prepared to pay the price.
And once you do, you'll truly appreciate the value.