A few years ago I was invited to a prestigious business group.

They wanted me to give them a presentation about the small advertising company I owned. I did and a few days later got a call saying they’d decided to invite me as a member, “You will have so much business from us,” said the voice on the phone, “that you won’t have time to do anything else!”

“Let me think it over,” I said.

“Think what over?” asked the impatient voice of the president of the group, “It is a privilege to be invited to our group! Don’t you want to make money?”

“That’s what I want to think about,” I said, “Whether I want to continue my life making more money, or to do what I love best; writing, teaching and spending time with my family!”

Bill McCartney, coach of the University of Colorado football team, shocked the sports world when he resigned at the top of his career. The reason he gave for quitting was that he wanted to spend time with his wife and with religious pursuits.

Sports writers struggled to understand this, “What man gives up such power and prestige?” they asked. And there was a certain amount of power and prestige as because of McCartney’s leadership, the team had achieved national prominence.

“Put it another way,” writers also asked, “what man walks out on a $350,000-per-year contract with 10 years remaining so that he can spend time with his wife and his God?”

Writers used words like “mad” and “out of his head.” They didn’t get it. But Bill McCartney, in deciding to turn his back on a promising career, showed us that money does not have to drive major decisions, and we can choose to honor those things that matter.

Yes, there are some things you do give up with such a decision, as I realized when that same year I had a car showroom salesman drive a Mercedes to my home. “I’m planning to buy this tomorrow,” I said proudly to my wife, “Let me take you for a spin!”

“Bob, do you really need a Merc?” asked my wife.

I didn’t buy the car and still have my old one.

Last week, the twins, my six year old grandsons from New York wrote to me, saying, “Thank you for introducing us to a happy place,” which was my garden, where we would spend hours together. I felt happy I had the time to do so. And today when my granddaughter comes home every morning and wants me to spend time telling her stories, and carrying her around, I believe I have more happiness than all the wealth the Ambani’s displayed at their wedding.

Which begs the question; were they trying to buy happiness with all that spending? I hope not, because there’s a shortcut, which is being happy without too much.

You too can make that choice..!

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