I have seven governing values that constitute my decision-making criteria.

These are the values and standards I use to make decisions. Then I can evaluate the results by looking at my list to see where these decisions fit in:

• Truth
• Peace of Mind
• Integrity and Honesty
• LOYALTY
• Quality of Life
• Quality of What I Take Part In (Excellence)
• Adventure/Change & Variety/Excitement

Not all of my decisions will include all of these values or meet each standard but knowing my priorities in order of what I value makes daily decision-making a whole lot easier.

Today, I have a list of thirty-four governing values in my Personal Constitution

Eight of those thirty-four values define what success means to me. Those are:

1. God’s affirmation
2. Someday being a great husband
3. Someday being an outstanding father
4. Financial freedom/independence and wealth
5. Self-mastery
6. Personal health and fitness
7. Helping society; and
8. Pleasure

When it is all said and done, if my life has not included each and every one of these elements in the ways I have explicitly defined them in my Personal Constitution, then I cannot consider my life’s journey to have been a success.

One of the most important things I believe every person should do is take the time to establish a Personal Constitution.

A Personal Constitution is a document that embodies the system of fundamental principles by which a person commits to being governed.