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The Secret Power of Contentment
November 29th, 2012
by Bill Boyajian

The trick to success in life, and leadership, is not getting what you want; it’s liking what you’ve got after you get it. Many leaders are almost never content. Their restlessness is what drives them to achieve. This isn’t a bad thing, as long as it’s manageable. Contentment is something that is learned, especially for a leader. It doesn’t come naturally. It has to be acquired through a focused effort. Leaders can accomplish great things, but it is never enough if they constantly compare themselves to others.

Learn to be grateful for what you have. Part of being content means you must focus on gratitude rather than on social comparison. It’s a choice we make. Cicero said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Our human nature drives us to be better than (or at least as good as) others, and society fuels this notion. If we weren’t so conscious of what others have, we would be much more content with what we have. I’m not suggesting complacency. Instead, I’m advocating contentment. It has a lot to do with your credibility as a leader. The more content you are, the less you have to prove to others, or to yourself. You’ll have more time to think of others. And that will give you an opportunity to bridge into their lives, rather than being fixated on your own. You’ll become less aware of your own wants and needs and will spend more time helping others. Audrey Hepburn said it this way: “Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: the first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.”



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–Charles Denaburg,
Managing Partner,
Levy’s Fine Jewelry
Birmingham, AL

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Leitzel Fine Jewelry
Hershey & Myerstown, PA

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Kizer-Cummings Jewelers
Lawrence, KS