This is a guest post by Paul Sabaj, a loyal reader of Success Circuit. He has previously written Goals and Success.

I love reading the posts in Success Circuit and find the stories fun, inspiring and motivating. I also notice that the theme tends to run to the young at heart. I just wanted to remind people that success can come at any age as long as you’re willing. While I love reading of the person who is under thirty I am also impressed with those like Ben Franklin who did a lot of what he is famous for after the age of forty. Men like Ray Kroc of McDonald’s fame started at fifty two years of age when he found the McDonald brothers hamburger stand in California and bought the license to franchise the whole deal for I think two million dollars.
The author Tom Clancy who was an insurance salesman who loved to dabble in writing did not get published until he was in his late thirties.
I also like the story of Col. Sanders of Kentucky fried Chicken fame, who then went on the road to pitch his famous chicken at 65 years of age because he thought his Social Security check was way too small to live on. I can go on and on with the stories of people, but I think they have a common theme to all of them. These people were not just going to settle for the status quo and let life and what turned out to also be fame pass them by. The guts to face a challenge and the ability to get over the fear that often keeps people from moving forward is to be admired. The old saying”The other side of fear is freedom.
You go through it on a small scale when you ask that girl out on your first date. Then once you have done it you realize it was not so bad. Ok if she says no it sucks but you get over it and move on!

One of my favorite stories I have read is about a woman who had a recent movie about her life is Julia Child. What a life story. Born in 1912 one of three siblings who during WW2 worked for the O.S.S. and on to work in the Foreign Service. While in Paris she attends the famous Cordon Bleu and starts a cooking school. She published her first cook book in 1961 at the age of 49 and went on to be the first real cook star of T.V. She did not get on T.V. until she was in her fifties. What a life and what a shining example of what you can do when you persevere and live life with passion.

One of the things I have read from Tony Robbins is “your never too old to be who you might have been.” My second thing that helps point the way is “Why not me!”
So not unlike many diets I have gone on I have said that this is the year for the old dog to learn new tricks and get moving. The difference this time is I have a plan and have told people about it to keep me honest with my endeavors. The other day I told one of the mentors I have of my plan and said I was waiting for the right time. His reply was starting a business and the road to success is like having kids. If you wait for the right time you will never have kids. Get started today. Good advice from a guy who came to America fifteen years ago from Greece and now is a multi millionaire. Good luck to all who try for your at least in the game.

How many times do I have to say it?! Success is not about money. Money is just a (albeit nice) bonus of Success.

Why do I mention this? Well, Success Circuit is meant to be about helping you to define what success is, see other peoples success and reach your own. People have mentioned to me that I am straying from this subject. Well, that may be the case but I believe that all the posts are somehow linked… so shortly I shall be adding a section to each new post (and maybe the old ones) explaning how it relates to success. However, as I do value everybody’s opinion I will try to focus more on writing about success.

Now, back to the title. Success is not about money, money is just a bonus of success. Read it. And again. And again! Ingrain that quote into your head.

“Success is not about money, money is just a bonus of success.”

Shane Hudson

Do you agree? Not everybody does. But I believe that if you go into anything with the mindset of making money, you will just lose money. Indeed, if you are making money and change your mindset while you are successful you will probably lose your success. Infact… not only would you lose your success, you would lose people’s respect and your reputation!

Remember one of the simplest quotes ever? Money does not bring happiness.

I asked Nicholas Cardot from sitesketch101.com about his opinion of my quotation (as I know he does not 100% agree with it, and was one of the people I mentioned earlier) and he gave a great answer through Skype which I wish I had recorded. Basically, he said that he wants to make money from blogging but also wants to help people. Therefore, he makes money while giving people great value products that helps them.

That I believe is fine, as long as helping people is the top priority. Though of course I do understand the fact that we all need money to live.

What is your opinion about this? Do you agree with me, or not? If not let me know… I won’t bite!!

UPDATE (10 minutes after posting!):

Nicholas Cardot: How much money do you make on Success Circuit?
Shane Hudson: I do not make money on Success Circuit
Nicholas Cardot: So then is that article a result of truth or the result of your disgruntled feelings for those who are making money on their sites? Sort of a justification to yourself for why your not making money?
Shane Hudson: uh.. no but very interesting view :)
Nicholas Cardot: So what is success to you?
Nicholas Cardot: Pageviews?
Nicholas Cardot: Connections?
Shane Hudson: Helping people
Nicholas Cardot: Readers?
Shane Hudson: no, dont care about stats
Nicholas Cardot: You can’t feed your family on ‘helping people.’
Jordan Cooper: if success means helping people, then why do you want us to RT, comment and share your stuff?
Shane Hudson: so that other people can read it and be helped?
Shane Hudson: lol I agree with you.. no need for an argument :P
Nicholas Cardot: There’s nothing wrong with trying to be rewarded for providing great value.
Jordan Cooper: Shane, why aren’t you out helping people then? quit blogging, you can help others WITHOUT a blog
Nicholas Cardot: Are you helping people? I mean really? Are you doing something that really makes a difference to people?
Shane Hudson: No I agree Nicholas… you are one of the people that gives value therefore deserve the rewards. Some bloggers write purely for the money
Jordan Cooper: I think almost all of us do
Shane Hudson: what, give value or write for the money?
Jordan Cooper: money
Jordan Cooper: you can’t look at things from extremes though
Jordan Cooper: I enjoy helping people, I really do… but seriously, I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t make money doing so
Shane Hudson: fair enough
Jordan Cooper: admitting that to yourself is paramount to keeping the things you do truly authentic
Shane Hudson: Thats a bit like going to a job interview and being asked “why do you want to work here” and replying with “its good money” lol
Shane Hudson: but I understand
Jordan Cooper: yeah… but I’ve actually said that in job interviews
Shane Hudson: really? did they accept you?
Jordan Cooper: yeah
Shane Hudson: wow :)
Jordan Cooper: because being that honest gets you mad respect
Shane Hudson: Yes that is true

As you can see, there are many different views about this. Especially due to the fact that there are different levels of success and of wanting/needing money.

If you are interested in finding out more about these amazing people I speak to on Skype, they are Nicholas Cardot from sitesketch101.com and Jordan Cooper from Not A Pro Blog. Their views are extremely valuable and I hope you can decide on your own view from reading through ours.

There are a lot of successful readers of Success Circuit and that is something I have always been proud of (and no, I am not talking about the big named “stars” that sometimes read Success Circuit, I am talking about YOU). However, today was the first time I realised that other people took notice of the other readers here at Success Circuit. I received an email from Scott Gerber a young entrepreneur columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine and founder of AskGerber.com which I believe is scheduled for launch during the Spring. The email had some information about AskGerber but what interested me the most (though AG sounds like an amazing website) was a book he is writing.

‘Never Get A Real Job’ is the name of the book and he says that he is “looking to find the best war stories from entrepreneurs around the globe”. That sounds interesting right?

So if you believe you have a story worth printing (which I know every single person on this planet does, some longer than others) then watch the video below. If you do not believe you have a story inside you, then.. still watch the video below!

Also, I would love for you to send your stories to me as well (I always love reading about peoples stories, especially those that read Success Circuit!), if you would like to send it to me as well then my email address is Shane [at] ShaneHudson [dot] net.

Let us know in the comments here what you think of this opportunity, are you going to go for it?

This is a guest post by Paul Sabaj, a loyal reader of Success Circuit. This is his first guest post on Success Circuit so please comment and let him know what you think! Hopefully we will have many more from him in the future.

Goal setting has been around for a long time. When you look at some of the great minds they have all had a plan and set some goals with a time line to reach them by. Goals without time lines are just dreams. When you look through out history from the Bible, where it says,” Those without a vision will perish”, to today when Tony Robbins talks of goal setting.

There was also a study done at Harvard where they asked a graduating class their goals for the future and who had written them down. It was found that only 3 % had written them down. Twenty years latter they went back and asked the surviving members who had written their goals how they were doing. It was found that those that had written down their goals were more financially better off than the 97% combined. Pretty strong evidence for the practice of goal setting!

Take some time to write down your goals for short and long term goals. They should be looked at monthly so that should any changes be needed they can be sooner than latter. The nest step is to work on an action plan and a list of things needed to complete the goals. Again keep in mind that if you don’t where your going how are you going to get there. To leave your goals to chance is to let someone else set your course. Some of you will find that when you make your plans known people will let you do them. I know if my wife finds out I have no plans or goals she has a list of hers for me to do.

The other question you have to ask your self is “Why not me”. Your mantra should be I can, I will. The other part of goals is they become the basis for your action plan to get started to where you want to be and the steps you need to identify to make you dreams come true. The information highway has provided unlimited resources and all we have to do is have the motivation to do what ever it takes. You also find that with age and wisdom some times goals change. I myself have had the opportunity to have worked as a firefighter and retired at a young age. I’m currently working on my second career and have been busy for some time laying the ground work. My wife would like to see it sooner than latter and I must get to moving it along. I have made my list of goals and identified my short comings and have set a plan to be a video blogger with a niche for baby boomers. By following the success of others I have a road map to follow and my self motivation to help carry me along. Ok maybe a little push form the wife helps.
I have read over 100 self help books as I have found them to be a great source of inspiration and now must put all of that to work for me. Keeping your goals written down and in front of you can make those dreams a reality.

I think that having the goals in front of you allows you to think about where you want to be and go. Just like the talk of the book The Secret, the idea of having an idea or need in the fore front of your thinking allows you to concentrate more fully on the task at hand. Make the list and get started with your goals and where you want to be. So many people have no clue as to what they want and then wonder why they have no success. Get started!

It is obvious, isn’t it, that all songs are written with meanings… that they are symbolic? Some songs do not hide any of the meanings, some do. But no matter what the song, it MEANS SOMETHING!

Meaning is very important to me, why? Because at its essence is always a purpose, understanding or even just a simple question. If you are a parent then you have probably said (I know my parents used to say it all the time!) “Stop asking Why!”, during the early years of life most of us ask questions which are vital to our development… these could include questions about why adults do something, why their friends do not get told off when they do or even purpose the of life (yes, I am talking about 3 year olds)!

It does not stop there. Almost all of us, no matter our age or knowledge, we all want to understand more about how something works or why something happens. Art is the most popular (possibly even only?) way to express our questions or to reveal secrets without anybody understanding what we are saying. It helps.

What do I include when I mention Art?

• Visual – Paintings, Photography, Pictures, Digital Art, Make-Up
• Audition – Lyrics, instrumental
• Taste – Food, drinks
• Smell – Food, perfumes

Of course there are thousands of other aspects that are included in the word Art… let us all know if you can think of any!

Now down to the point of the post, song lyrics. I am not going to interpret them myself, though I will probably do a follow up post in which I will. However, today I am going to a few verses of some songs I like (though of course you can do your own!) and I would appreciate it if you took the time to see what the songs are about. This skill is very useful in interpreting anything in life which in turn will allow you to be successful in what you are trying to achieve!

So remember, look for hidden meanings… even if it looks obvious! Also, not only meanings, try interpreting the content and relating it to a different context.

Circle of Life – featured in The Lion King
Music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There’s far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life

Country Roads
John Denver
Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories, gather around her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin’ down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

So what can you interpret in songs, and how do they relate to your life?

I expect you comment on a lot of blogs, I know I do! But do you pay much attention to what you write? Quite often whilst approving comments on Success Circuit I notice that I get three types of comments: spam, common and constructive. Obviously I expect none of you to spam (or at least you better not!) but many of us (including myself quite often) do not put enough effort into each comment we write. So today I would like to take the time to have a look at how we can improve our comments.

Why Should You Comment?

Part of improving how we comment is by understanding why we comment. A blogger, or indeed infopreneur, writes posts for the readers to help them and to offer new information. The commenter/reader on the other hand gets the opportunity to further what the post speaks about, give their own opinion and to discuss the content of the post with both the author and other readers. What an amazing role to play, being able to give your own ideas et cetera without having to come up with the idea for the post like the author does.

Another remarkable role of the commenter is that they are able to motivate. If you are a blogger yourself then you will know the feeling that we get every comment we approve. Knowing that people read and appreciate what you write… it is amazing!

Great Post!

This comes under my category of “common”, it is the type of comment that each one of us (usually) does the most of. You read a post and knowing that it motivates the author, you comment. But instead of writing something useful or that shows your opinion or furthers the discussion, you just say “Great post, keep them coming” or the like.

Now, I am not saying do not ever post like that (though if you can do a more sophisticated comment with the time you have then I would insist you do) but I believe we should all be helping to improve the post and to help to provide maximum information and help as many people as possible. One of my goals for the upcoming year is not to comment more, as I comment often, but to write “better” comments.

Constructive Comments

Does that sound similar to constructive criticism? Well it should! Good comments are ones that look at the good and bad points of the post, tear it apart into little pieces and start a full blown riot debate. Why? Because that not only helps other people that read it (depending what the post is about) but it also motivates and helps the author. I once got an email (because they did not want to publically slaughter me hehe) that shred apart one of my posts (on an old blog of mine) and voiced his opinions very clearly. GREAT! That is what I want. Okay, I would have preferred it if he commented on the post as it would show everybody else his opinions and perhaps even start a very strong discussion.

But comments do not have to just be about how the post is incorrect, for example if you had a blog about cooking then the comments should be about how a recipe could taste even more extravagant or be changed to a vegetarians option. It is all about taking a look at the content of the post and putting a spin on it. These not only voice your opinion but give ideas to other readers and may help them. If your commenting on a bloggers “10 top favourite Wordpress plugins” then, obviously I should hope, you would write about your favourites… but stop… you could do more than that, couldn’t you? I would look at their list and if there was one there that I had used but had problems with then I would say so, if there was one I agreed with and use all the time then I would explain why it is so good.

Get where I am coming from? Just because it is not your blog does not mean you cannot provide great content for it. I know people that instead of running their own blog, or even guest posting, they go to other blogs and basically write their own post in form of a comment about the content of the post they have read. Amazing! Also remember, a lot of bloggers will read your great comment and then have a look at your own blog or ask you if you would like to guest post. Commenting is a great way to get to know people.

And before I leave you, remember this: Community does not exist if there is no interaction. So, as a commenter, ask questions! Get the author to interact with you and interact yourself with the other readers. If you manage to stir a discussion, the author will want to know more about you!

So, discuss! Is there anything you agree or disagree on? Do you hate commenters that just say “great post”, if so why? Lets get some conversation going about the assets of a good comment. Also, a question to you, how often do you usually comment on blogs?