What Do You Want From Life?

Today, I want to share with you a poem I first heard over 20 years ago when I was a university student.  Napoleon Hill included it in the original edition of Think and Grow Rich.  The author is unknown.

I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store.
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.

Some observations:

1. We can get what we want out of life, but we must pay a price.
2. Some don’t ask much from life…and they don’t contribute much either.
3. That last point reminds me of the Master Dream List.  Some people just don’t dream anymore, or they don’t think their dreams will make a difference because they don’t take the right steps to fulfill those dreams.
4. When we consider how we spend our time in work-related or income-producing activities, we should choose to engage in activities with the highest reward or payoff.
5. The earlier the better – meaning, the sooner we understand and employ these principles in our lives, the more success we’ll enjoy.

Is there anything else you’d add to my observations?  If so, please share your ideas in the Comments section below.

Also, if you haven’t taken the time to do this ever, or in a really long time, why not take some time today to answer this question: What do I want from life? I’ll share my answer to that question in my next post.