The Real Smell of Success

Bruges Belgium

This is Belgium.

Bruges, to be exact.

I want to say I took the picture. I’ve taken some great photos in time on this rock, but I think this one is a little too good and perfect. But I will tell you; I have stood at this very spot. It is as awesome as this picture looks.

And it was at this moment; I loved what I did because I could stand there at that very moment and soak in an entirely different culture.

And the Belgian beer. Seriously, the Westmal Triple. You have to have one before you die. Trust me.

So, the title of this piece is “The Real Smell of Success,” … so what does that mean exactly?

It means whatever you define it to be.

And I say that with a completely straight face.

For me, it is travel. For you, it might be something else. But to me, there is no better currency in the world than travel. Now, I say travel, not because I have the money to do it. I’ve always had the money; I just didn’t have anyone to go with, and traveling alone, which I wouldn’t have minded doing, is fine, but having someone to experience the moments with is. That, to me, is happiness and success.

I got my first passport at the age of 45. I’m not lying. Yep, 45. I’ve visited half the European countries in the last five years, some multiple times. One country over a dozen times. It is magical every time I go. The people, the food, the wine, the beer, the history, etc. It never gets old. I am proud to say I can order beer and wine in seven different languages, and I can also say “What a stupid American” in five other languages. It always gets approval from the locals when I say it and a hearty laugh when they realize I’m also an American.

I’m not telling you how to live your life. No, that is a lie. I am going to do that. You can get that big house, the boat, the $100k car, etc. Or, you can slim down a bit. Drive a nice older car. Rent the boat when you need it and get a couple of tickets a year to Europe with your significant other. See Prague. Hop over the Bruges and Ghent in Belgium. Krakow, Poland, is the Cabo of Europe, as in, “if you go there once, you’ll be there twice,” Bologna in Italy, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest. None are overly touristy (yet); each has charm and intrigue.

Make memories. Experience culture. Reward your hard work with an epic journey that you will want to take again and again, as it is entirely addicting.