Someone's Success Story Could Begin with You

One of the greatest achievements that I could ever experience in life is for the success story of another human being to begin with me. Even if that person never credited me publicly with making a profound difference in their life, just the private revelation that I had a positive impact would fill my heart with immense joy.

Have you ever invested in someone - whether an underdog or someone who was clearly a candidate for success - and felt the personal gratification that comes from knowing you made a difference in that person's life? If not, you are missing out on a wonderful experience. To know that you have played a role in someone learning, growing, healing, believing, trying and succeeding is an incredible feeling.

When I think about some of things that I have accomplished in my life, I realize that they all began with an individual who believed in me and offered me encouragement and support when perhaps few others saw or cared about my potential. As important as it is to believe in oneself, like many people I have at times fallen prey to self-doubt, and I was fortunate enough to have had someone in my corner that identified qualities and strengths in me that I could not necessarily see in myself.

As with any investment, investing in another human being has its risks. Such risks may include being taken advantage of or believing in someone who lets you down. Likewise, investing in someone who does not manifest the outward signs of potential may cause you to be judged harshly by family, friends and associates. However, it could also end up being the best investment you ever made in your life.

If you have never invested in another human being, or tried it once or twice but vowed never to do it again because of a negative experience, I would suggest that you give it a shot. You just never know - when that person one day shares their success story, it may very well begin with you.