THE BENCHMARK OF SUCCESS

YOU ARE A SUCCESS...

* WHEN you clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person – that yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand new day.

* WHEN you know that a success (a win) doesn't make you and that a failure (a loss) doesn't break you.

* WHEN you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future.

* WHEN you are filled with faith, hope, and love and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy, or thoughts of revenge.

* WHEN you are mature enough to delay gratification and shift your focus from your rights to your responsibilities.

* WHEN you know that failure to stand for what is morally right is the prelude to becoming a victim of what is criminally wrong.

YOU ARE A SUCCESS...

* WHEN you are secure in who you are, so you are at peace with your Creator and in fellowship with others.

* WHEN you have made friends of your adversaries and have gained the love and respect of those who know you best.

* WHEN you understand that others can give you pleasure but that genuine happiness comes when you do things for others.

* WHEN you give hope to the hopeless, love to the unlovable, and are pleasant to the grouch, courteous to the rude, and generous to the needy.

* WHEN you can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.

* WHEN you know that the greatest are those who choose to be servants of all.

* WHEN you recognize, confess, develop, and use your given physical, mental, and spiritual abilities for the benefit of others.

YOU ARE A SUCCESS when you know that you have been a good and faithful servant of the Creator of the universe.

[The author Zig Ziglar also attributed his own success to his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.]