Can one success hold you back from another success?
I truly believe it can. And I see many people fall into this trap.
I’ve seen many people take risks early on in life. They’ve become very successful. But once they’ve achieved that success, they get comfortable. They begin clinging to that success for stability—unwilling to take another risk.
I’m so grateful for having parents who have never done this. Not once. My dad went from the military to working as a principle at a school. (He took a pay cut.) Then he went from principle to planting a church on the outskirts of a tiny town. (Another pay cut.)
My parents went from church planters to missionaries in a third world country. (Pay cut and living in a country engaged in a civil war.) Then from missionaries they started a missions organization and moved back to the US. (Basically a pay cut since the cost of living is higher here.) From missions director to pastors. (Pay cut.)
Do you see the trend here? Each of their decisions was a huge risk. But each decision brought more peace to the family, more opportunities, more experiences… Not a single member of our family would consider any risk my parents took as a failure. My parents followed their vision through the risk…and they didn’t hold on to past successes.
Never hold on to a past success so much that you’re unwilling to let it go and take another risk.
That’s something I hope to model in my life. I’ve seen it take my family to unique territories. I know it’ll do the same for me.
Let success strengthen you for future risks. Don’t let it trap you.
