The four things that separate the rich from the poor. Drive, Ambition, Guts, and the Willingness to Sacrifice.

I recently built a ramp for a handicapped brother, sounds simple; it wasn’t. It became an obsession, which I love, but all other responsibilities I have suffer when I’m in that state. I’m not joking when I say I was starving during the building stage, I didn’t take time to eat. I worked 16 hour days in 100 degree weather. When finished I achieved another personal success and I was happy. I totally identify with this quote. If I bought him a ramp I would have achieved nothing. It is this state of mind that attracts me to Objectivism, she defines the best that is within me. I could site other achievements but the one I am most proud of myself for is the eradication of bed bugs. They are formidable little creatures and I suffered setbacks which I paid for physically, mentally and emotionally. At any time I could have spent $3.000.00 and been done with them, which I have and wouldn’t miss. Every day I failed, these bugs would wait until I was sleeping, crawl all over me, bite the bejeezus out of me and I’d be scratching like a banshee all day half out of mind. But I didn’t give up and I won. Oh yeah, bed bugs love ass. I know who I am and that wasn’t always the case. When other peoples happiness was more important than my own I was miserable and in no shape to create anything. The ramp was an opportunity for me to create which filled me with passion and helped my brother in law. Sleeping in my own bed after another failed attempt at eradicating bed bugs doubled my resolve and kept them from going up stairs after my children. The philosophy is true and when practiced often has the byproduct of benefitting other people.

I've always tried to teach my children to search for a goal and then strive to attain it. For its not the goal that gives us happiness bit the journey to get there. I've always believed that but I never really realized it until I reached my first goal. Before then I thought getting there was a bitch. Does that make any sense to anyone?

Hello O.A.

Sacrifice time, and sometimes money. I'll explain further. If you are wanting to go back to school to further your education. Well you have to sacrifice some time away from home. Give up extra activities to achieve that goal.
Separate rich from poor, or success from not success however you wish to define it. I just make the statement simple. You can interpret it any way you see fit, how it fits with you.
Bottom line is whatever you want, if you want it bad enough you will find a way to achieve it.