I invite you to take a moment to ponder this thought: We are acknowledged in life by our level of service. 

With an economic system that’s based on the exchange of goods and services, we learn early the enjoyment of being of service, getting a paycheck, and the satisfaction that comes from completing a day’s work. As parents, we encourage our children to seek out their own path to live a life of service. Even in reading The Bible, God underscores the importance of serving him and others.

In fact, service—and the appreciation of those who serve well—is wired into our DNA. Wherever our life’s path takes us, from jobs in sports and theater to positions in restaurants and customer-care, great service is recognized. I find that a generous tip and a kind word for someone who provides exceptional service, or for someone whose enthusiasm makes up for average service, reinforces a desire to serve. For me, the admiration and appreciation for those who provide extraordinary service has fueled long-term relationships with people who have been consistent in meeting and exceeding my expectations. For example, I’ve been buying cars from the same dealer for 20 years and taking my business to the same snowmobile and off-road vehicle dealer for decades. Why? Exceptional and passionate service.

In my 20’s I was significantly influenced by Earl Nightingale’s book, Lead the Field.  He instructed that an average attitude produces average results, a good attitude produces good results, and a great attitude produces great results. Since then, I’ve validated this lesson in my life and the lives of others. I believe that the same philosophy and outlook apply to a life of service, in that great service provides great results.

In exploring and practicing this thought pattern more deeply, I also learned that valuable results often—but not always—apply to financial outcomes as well.  It’s all intertwined and, in speaking with my peers, we’ve come to the agreement that, while financial results are important, a great outcome is actually defined by a high level of enjoyment while being in service to others. Equally important is that service speaks to the soul, clarifying who we are and what we’re here to accomplish.

I have found this to be an priceless lesson.

When I look back at that young man in my 20’s, I recognize that I kept score in life by wealth and possessions and assumed greater wealth correlated to higher levels of satisfaction. Experience and wisdom have reoriented my belief that my level of wealth “holistically” will be in correlation to my service of others, paying dividends of joy and peace. 

A final gift from this service-focused perspective is the level of commitment and enthusiasm I’m inspired to bring into each presentation or client session I participate in, which fuels my level of fulfillment both emotionally and financially. 

In Replace Retirement, Living your Legacy in the Exponential Age, I encourage a lifetime of service designed and delivered intentionally in your own unique way.  When young, we frequently have limited choices about the path we follow and the career we choose.  For many the gift of the second half of life is an abundance of options to design a unique and purposeful way to serve. The result: a journey into the best years of our lives instead of a slow slide into insignificance and dependence.  Join me in replacing retirement with intentional living!