The other day I am at the club getting ready to go work out. I am standing in the row of lockers talking to another guy. I hear a couple of kids come in behind me, but don't turn around. It is obvious from their conversation that they are about five and three years old and they are going to go swimming.

Suddenly the older boy says to the younger one in a scolding voice, "Joey, you have to take your shoes off before you take your pants off." I turn around and there is this three-year old sitting on the ground, trying to take his pants off over these huge waffle-stomper boots!

The guy I was talking to said, "That is good basic life instruction!" I said, "I'm gonna use that for an article someday."

Indeed: Always take your shoes off before you take your pants off. It made me think about how we often try to get so sophisticated in our quest for success and personal growth but isn't it really true that all success begins with the basics? In fact, perhaps the struggles we have are because we have gotten away from the basics. With that in mind I gave some thought this week to the basics in a few areas. Here they are.

Business

Always produce a good product

Be honest

Under-promise and over-deliver

Help people and money will come

Pay your people well

Family

Put them first as they will be with you last

Treat your spouse like they are the most important person in the world - they are!

Give your kids more time than even you think that you should

Be sure to discipline your kids - they need boundaries

Take the time to create family memories

Travel as far and spend as much money as you need to make it home for special occasions - in the long run you'll be glad you did

Relationships

Treat people the way you want to be treated

Don't speak ill of others

Always help if you can when others are in need

Find ways to make others feel special

Always tell others what you like or appreciate about them

Health

Significantly lower your intake of "junk"

Exercise more, even if it is just a short daily walk

Drop the bad habits, like alcohol and cigarettes

Eat more fruits and vegetables

Finances

Eliminate debt - be ruthless about this

Take a look at where you are currently spending

Tighten up on (or cut out) the loose stuff in your budget

Save some money each month

Give some money away to charity each month

Spirituality

Pray regularly

Trust God, even when it seems hard

Live what you say you believe

Get involved in a community of faith

Emotions

Take an inventory of your emotional health

Work to control extremes in any emotion (emotions are good when they help to feel what we are supposed to feel, but destructive when they get to extremes)

Allow yourself to feel emotions you have suppressed

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.

To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.