This morning I find myself drifting in thought back to a time when becoming a “successful” businessperson was the most important thing in my life. Successful, by its very nature is a subjective and personal term. For me, it meant to have succeeded in business to a level that would attract an interview by CNBC.

Having been born to a German farming family, I held the belief that success was dependent upon hard work. If I was consistent and earnest in my efforts success would eventually take root and grow. Simply put, if I wasn’t experiencing the level of success I desired, I was just not working hard enough.