Understandably, many people equate success with money.

They spell it $ucce$$.

Money is after all, the yardstick by which most people measure life.

The more money you earn, the more successful you are.

If people are willing to pay you huge sums of money you must be successful.

But what about that old guy downtown with the shoe repair shop?

Alex.

He isnt wealthy, he lives in an older home, in a modest part of town, drives a three year old car, and since he has a little paunch, he probably eats reasonably well, but he isnt wealthy.

He came to this country from Czechoslovakia in 1946 with his wife and two small children, bringing with him little other than the tools for repairing shoes that had been his fathers, and his grandfathers. He hoped that Canada would provide a small business opportunity.

He found a little building, no bigger than a one car garage and set up a shoe repair shop.

He rented a small apartment and hopped he would soon forget about the nightmare that had been Europe for the past ten years.

He became a Canadian in spirit at once and legally as soon as was allowed by law.

He sent his children to elementary school and recognizing how quickly they learned the new language and customs set out to learn from them and from their new friends.

He spoke English at every opportunity, with his customers, his neighbors and the friends his children brought home and also encouraged his wife to learn.

His modest home is paid for and he now owns the little shop as well. His small business idea didn't make him wealthy, just comfortable.

Three times he and his wife have returned to the old country to visit and each time he has inspired another relative to pack up and, with his sponsorship, move to Canada.

His daughter became a school teacher, his son an engineer. He now has five grandchildren and more nieces and nephews than he can count.

Alex has never learned how to incur debt. He has no anxieties, no fears, no enemies and many friends.

I dont know about you, but to me, old Alex is a very successful man!

So -- how do you spell success?

Len McNally