A Lottery Winner's Fate
Success and money have long gone together like peanut butter and jelly. It's time for a new
lunchtime snack.
Before I dive in, however, I have to admit that money is important--very important--but as a
measure of value and a means of trade, not as the Holy Grail of success. If the dollar is
your idea of achievement, you're going to be disappointed.
For proof we need look no further than William Post, winner of the Pennsylvania lottery.
After winning $16.2 million and dealing with the trappings of wealth, he had this to say of
his experience: "I wish it never happened. It was totally a nightmare."
But that's only one person. Maybe Bill didn't know how to live it up. Evelyn Adams may be a
better subject; she hit the jackpot twice.
Perhaps not. After netting $5.4 million, Adams now lives in a trailer. "Winning the lottery
isn't always what it's cracked up to be."
Maybe we'll do better with Suzanne Mullins, winner of the Virginia lottery. Taking in
enough money to make her--and your--dreams come true, she is now nearly $200,000 in debt.
Bust.
I'll admit that the lottery brings along uncommon hassles and dilemmas, but these stories
show that money is not the be all and end all of existence. Massive wealth can quickly
morph into that reviled houseguest who invites a dozen friends into your peaceful home.
Soon enough your carpet is on fire and your cat is missing.
Create a better definition of success. Enough money to see after your needs and wants is
expected, but then you need to move beyond that. The dollar isn't the only answer or the
ultimate cure. It's a mechanism, just one sprocket in the bigger picture of success.
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