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There is more joy in anticipation than in realization. Take a big
party that is being planned. Those who will attend experience more
excitement than is usually justified. More often than not, the party
ends up not being all that it was cracked up to be as the high
expectations fail to be met.
The poor person who gets a well paying job is
excited over the prospect of getting his own apartment. He dreams
about what it will look like. He feels great joy as his savings grow
and he is getting closer to achieving his goal. Then one fine day he
finally moves in and occupies the apartment of his dreams. But the
anticipation, the joy of accomplishing the difficult and the gradual
fulfillment of his expectation exceed his pleasure of occupying his
new quarters. Yes, of course there is joy there too, but much of it
is the satisfaction of the expectation.
I once spent the evening with a very rich man.
This business tycoon did not have to work another day in his life,
but he worked like a man possessed. When I asked him why he didn’t
retire and enjoy his wealth, he answered, “It’s not the money,
Bob, it’s the game,” Making money was important, but it remained
secondary. It was the striving, planning the money game that gave
him greater pleasure than adding to his bank account. Chances are
that he would never be able to spend all his money anyway. It was
the anticipation more than the realization that was most important.
Another big time businessman told me, “I
remember well the time when I made my first million, but I cannot
recall when I made my other millions.” It was the joy of
anticipating his first million that was momentous for him. Once he
reached that landmark, his other millions no longer meant nearly as
much.
The greater joy is in dreaming our dreams and
working to make them come true. The anticipation of them becoming
real is what carries us forward.
Another man of means was asked why he did not
grasp certain opportunities to earn more money. “Because,” he
said, “another million will not make any difference one way or
another.” If he could not enjoy the anticipation of achieving
something, working towards earning more wasn’t worth the effort.
If you want to succeed, you need to get excited
about your objective before you ever set out to strive for it. It is
this joyful expectation of success that is so powerful in pushing
you forward and giving you the motivation to keep moving toward your
goal.
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If you have problems about drugs, alcohol and
behavior/attitude call my office at 8206107 or 8251771 or e-mail me
at gvcbuenca@vasia.com or write me at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati
City.
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