capitalism is a love-hate relationship for many americans. on one hand, generating larger and larger amounts of money is the sure-fire, bottom line measure of escalating success. see if these sound familiar. it’s just business. it made the most sense. narrow the decision to money and earn the sale. on the other hand, how you generate money can wear at you and leave you less than satisfied. people appreciate those who are successful — but only to an extent. those who obsess over or overly-center on money tend to hold only a moderate level of respect in our society. their brands suffer.
when one of the top five pitchers currently active in the game of baseball, cliff lee, signed the least initially lucrative of three offers just before midnight, he made a real statement. it’s one that will resonate with many of us (even as he passed on an offer from my favorite team). what you do, with whom and where you do it and how you get to success are as (or more) important than the mere measure of “success” or income you generate. more importantly, success does not ensure health, and your longevity and long-term happiness rely far more on your mental and physical well-being than on money and success.
interesting side note — lee’s son has leukemia, and philadelphia is home to the top pediatric treatment center for the disease in the nation.
