There is an interesting quote from Brian Dyson, the former vice chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola which goes as follows:

“Imagine life as a game in which you’re juggling five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends, and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will see and understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends, and spirit are all made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will become irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

I pondered upon this for a while. Especially because it resonated so deeply with my own journey. During my initial years of being a business owner, I used to be so deeply engrossed in my work that I rarely had time for my wife and children. They’d watch me attending calls at night and stressing over not being good enough at work throughout the day. Thankfully, before I could cause any serious damage to my relationships, I came to the realization that I needed to find a way to make money without making it my whole life.

See, it’s important to note that we can always build and rebuild our careers. But the bonds we form with people are much more fragile and we must treat them with care. Similarly with our health. Have you ever seen a chain smoker’s lungs? Just looking at them, you’ll instantly realize how much damage can be done and how it is irreversible.

As for the human spirit, you’ll understand its importance much better if you read any book written by a survivor of the Holocaust. It was their spirit that gave so many people the will to keep holding on, even when everything looked bleak. No matter how harsh our external conditions are if the spirit is intact, a person can survive. But once it’s broken, the person withers away soon enough too.

No matter what big goal or dream you’re working towards, always remember to juggle these five balls of life carefully. Work hard for your dream and sacrifice what you have to, but don’t let your relationships with your loved ones, your health, or your spirit get damaged in the process.

When you understand this and prioritize your energy and time accordingly, you’ll notice that you will be able to enjoy success even more!

Imagine being in a big mansion but you are completely alone, with no family or friends, in poor health and low spirits. And now imagine being in the same mansion with a loving family and friends over for the holidays, while you are in great health and with a spirit that makes you want to keep going.

Which one sounds better?

Whenever I feel like I am losing track of my priorities whilst chasing after my own dreams, I remind myself of the above quote by Brian Dyson and realign my actions immediately.

I hope it helps you realign yours too.