Today is my son’s 1st birthday. He’s getting so big, it’s hard to imagine that they grow up as fast as they do. He’s one of the reasons I’m doing what I’m doing, and one of the reasons I don’t spend all day working or away from my family.

I had an undergraduate professor who taught me a simple principle. He said, "you need to find something more important than money, power, or prestige. I don’t care what it is, but if you want to be successful, you must find that thing."

That phrase has stuck with me over the years. It’s such a simple philosophy, yet the true impact of the statement’s importance magnifies it’s meaning. We are surrounded and constantly bombarded by images, media, and personalities telling us we need to acquire more stuff, money, and status to be happy. Yet, we see that Wall Street took a 700 point plunge, home values, foreclosures, and unemployment are at an all-time high. How can these two worlds co-exist? Quite simply, they cannot.

I have one friend who, sadly, continues to follow this constant mantra. He has sought for almost a year to find happiness in stuff. He purchased a new car, house, computer system, television, etc., in his pursuit. Despite the efforts, he still misses the mark. He desperately wants the feeling, and constantly complains of his situations. He cannot find that one thing that matters or means more than anything else in this world.

If you’re struggling to find that sense of meaning, question those around you who are happy. See what makes them wake up each day smiling. Ask what sends them eager to go home each evening. I think you’ll find two or three common, core values, and they follow the "Professor’s Creed."

For me, that one thing is my beautiful wife, and my lovely children.