The Elements of Success

David Dellman, Debra L Hartmann

• Publisher: Vintage House Publishing
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9780578899817
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Crescita personale
• Subtopic: Successo personale

Water, fire, air, earth, and spirit...

Since ancient times, people have studied and learned from the basic elements so critical to our material existence. Any imbalance of one element over the other could have catastrophic results. But the lessons of the elements transcend the material. When we put these lessons into practice, we discover a guidebook for abundant living.

From renowned magician and Human Resources professional, David Dellman, The Elements of Success will show you how to apply ancient wisdom to contemporary existence so that you can live with love, peace, and success.

My Story

“A man who limits his interests limits his life.”

–Vincent Price

I am not a person who always dreamed of just one thing.

I have always envied the people who wanted one thing when they were kids, then grew to realize that one dream. I like the idea, but I believe my life is more abundant for the diversity of interest areas and passions I have enjoyed. Whether or not I would have been more successful if I had focused on only one thing is debatable. It also depends on how you define success. For me, success is a life enriched by many passions. It helps to be financially well off, but I wouldn’t trade joy for riches.

My story is more like a tree with many branches or a road with several detours and yet however lost I may sometimes feel internally or appear to others externally, I have invariably concluded that given a choice, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There is nothing I would do differently.

My primary passions have been spirituality, performance magic, writing, and public speaking, not necessarily in that order. However, my curiosity in spiritual matters does take precedence over all other pursuits most of the time. These general areas of interest have consumed my attention throughout most of my life.

I might have made more money if I dedicated my life to one thing. I might have been recognized as an expert if I had only one mission, but I would have missed out on so much that has given my life purpose and meaning.

Each interest area has enriched my life. I wouldn’t trade the experiences I have had while pursuing my interests for a handsome salary or a cozy pension. I am a curious person, and I love learning for learning’s sake. Not everyone values the pursuit of what stimulates the curiosity over financial gain, but I have valued learning over monetary goals for most of my life.

Mainstream wisdom encourages us to define who we are rather narrowly and do so early in life. We tend to ask our children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” There are many amazing and inspiring life stories from those who elected to excel in only one thing.

Consider Olympic athletes, sports stars, actors, and politicians. Many of those who have outstanding careers in these areas are known for little else; many, but not all. The pursuit of one thing to the neglect of all other interests is so prevalent in our culture that I often thought I should choose; in fact, I have felt pressure to choose. But succumbing to external pressure or social norms or even conventional wisdom will not always be in your best interest. You get to determine what success looks like for you. You decide, and no one else. It is your life; only you can define it.

The emphasis of this book is on balance, balancing the forces of water, fire, air, and earth, balancing your interests and passions with real-world responsibilities, and balancing your time and focus to achieve success and happiness.

I wouldn’t be happy if I left behind the interests, passions, and pursuits I love, and I would be a lesser person.

“You’ll be a jack of all trades, master of none,” I have heard people say.

Do you remember when the term “Renaissance man” was a compliment, when a liberal arts education was encouraged because electing a major too early was considered a danger to a broad, well rounded, and healthy education?

I remember when educators encouraged a liberal arts education at the undergraduate level and more focused education in graduate school. I realize that educational costs are astronomical, disproportionately higher today than when I was working on my undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, I would still encourage young people to keep an open mind and resist the urge to settle on a major too soon. Students today, as in any period, need to give themselves time to explore, study, learn, and grow before settling on a major.

A Renaissance man or woman, by the way, is a person with many talents or areas of knowledge. At one time, a broad array of interests was championed and encouraged. I would like to see a return to the Renaissance value. I would like to see people pursue their interests instead of writing them off as a waste of time before they have adequately explored them. Of course, there will be dead ends. You may pursue something for months, even years, before losing interest altogether, but you will never forget the contributions that pursuing your passions will make to your life.

It is not all about the outcome.

Every passion doesn’t have to be income-producing.

I have been interested in figure skating for decades. My interest was first sparked by the gold medal performance of Dorothy Hamill during the 1976 Olympic Games. After seeing her skate, I couldn’t wait to get out on the ice. I was terrible. Over the years, I practiced, I even hired a coach, but I have never skated to the proficiency of even local competitive skaters. I will never be an Olympic skater, but I watch the skating events at the Olympics with an appreciation that can only come from being on the ice. When I am on the ice, I enjoy it, I forget about whatever it is that weighs on my mind, and I feel energized and renewed.

Archery is much the same for me.

I love shooting my bow. In competition I do okay, but I am not great. I do it because I love it and the doing of it enriches my life.

Explore your tangential interests.

Don’t wait for permission, for the time to be right, or for some financial future to allow you some leisure time. Do it now, and you will be happier for it. Some of the most rewarding discoveries of my life came as I traveled the back road instead of the highway.

Diversity of thought and interest has enriched my life, and I think it will do the same for you.

Besides my primary passions, I also love motorcycles, photography, carpentry, and vintage home renovation. As a child, I often sat and watched a TV show or movie, not because I was interested in it, but because I knew someone else had invested their time and energy to create it, and I wanted to see if I could understand why. I watched some fantastic programs that children usually don’t watch, I learned, and I grew.

I spent the vast majority of my elective credits as an undergraduate in the cultural anthropology department because other cultures fascinated me. I loved the feeling of mind expansion I experienced when I was finally able to look through the lens of a radically different mindset from my own.

I have had four passions, not one, for as far back as my teen years, and some go back further. Could I have accomplished more if I had selected only one as the focus of my life? Maybe, maybe not, but I certainly would have missed out on the life-giving experiences I have encountered in the pursuit of other interest areas.

I cannot argue against the effect of concentrated effort. I cannot dispute the story of someone else when they say their life was about one thing. I can say that my life has never been about one thing, and I believe I am better for it.

I have had other dreams along the way.

After the lunar landing of Apollo 11, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. That dream remained passionate until, during my high school years, I interviewed with the Air Force ROTC. At that point, I was told that I was too short and too blind (nearsighted) to become a pilot.

I didn’t have the instinct to...

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Goals
• Generosity
• Gratitude
• Service
• Letting Go
• My Story
• Water
• Fire
• Air
• Earth
• Spirit
• Conclusion
• About the Author