Measure Your Life by Its Donation, Not Duration.

    You can succeed best and quickest by helping others succeed. "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care" (John Cassis). Life is a lot like the game of tennis. Those who don't serve well end up losing. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. A man asked renown author and psychiatrist Dr. Carl Menninger, "What would you advise a person to do, if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?" Most people expected him to reply, "Consult a psychiatrist." To their astonishment he replied, "Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need and do something to help that person."

    "Never forget to be truthful and kind. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart" (Prov. 3:3-4, LB). "Unless life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile" (Mother Teresa). "A self-centered life is totally empty, while an empty life allows room for God" (Tom Haggai). If you’re dissatisfied with your lot in life, build a service station on it. A good way to forget your troubles is to help others out of theirs.

    Serving others is never entirely unselfish because the giver never fails to receive. "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel" (Prov. 11:17). "At the close of life the question will not be, "How much have you got?" but, "How much have you given?" Not, "How much have you won” but "How much have you done?" Not, "How much have you saved” but "How much have you sacrificed?" It will be, "How much have you loved and served?" not, "How much were you honored?" (Nathen Schaeffer).

    "Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race" (W. E. Gladstone). Self-interest is a fire which consumes others and then self. Since nine-tenths of our unhappiness is selfishness, think instead in terms of what the other person wants. You can succeed best and quickest by helping others succeed.

    "The measure of life is not in its duration, but in its donation. Everyone can be great because everyone can serve" (Peter Marshall). When you’re serving others, life is no longer meaningless. "One thing I know; the only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve" (Albert Schweitzer). You can't help another without helping yourself. "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, watereth also himself" (Prov. 11:25).

    A genuine servant seeks the success of others. The true purpose of a leader is to help others get from where they are to where they haven’t been. We increase whatever we praise and the deepest need in human nature is the need to be appreciated and praised. "Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile.  A word of optimism and hope. A "you can do it" when things are tough" (Richard De Vos). Look for ways to help others by praising them.

    No one achieves greatness without being of service. Never reach out your hand unless you're willing to extend an arm. The roots of happiness grow deepest in the soil of service. Happiness is like potato salad—when shared with others, it's a picnic. From now on, any definition of a successful life must include serving others.