When I was a kid back in the 1980s, I listened to a lot of Christian music. My favorite album during that period was The Big Picture by an artist named Michael W. Smith.

One of the best songs on the album was titled “Pursuit of the Dream,” which contained one of my favorite lyrics ever: “Never forget your roots as you head for something new.”

That lyric has stuck with me for decades as I have gone through various periods in my life and made a lot of changes. I’ve thought about it a lot the last couple of years since I quit my job as a college professor and became a full-time ghostwriter, podcaster, and coach.

I have gotten a little bit of attention from people in my network because I’ve released a few books and built a business from scratch in that time. And yes, I’m proud of my accomplishments from the last few years. But the truth is that I had a lot of help getting here and I will continue to need a lot of help as I go forward.

The person who has helped me the most is my wife, Melanie. I wouldn’t have been able to write, quit my job, or build a business if she hadn’t been so supportive. She believed in me in the times I didn’t believe in myself… which was more often than I care to admit.

At the end of the day, I’m just a kid from the small southern Missouri town of Potosi. I grew up in a double-wide trailer out in the country. But I had the good fortune of having amazing parents, a lot of good teachers, and so many people who have helped me along the way.

Whatever level of success you achieve in your life or business, don’t ever forget where you came from. We were all born the same way and we will all leave this life one day.

Keep your success in perspective and remember that it’s all pretty pointless if you don’t use your success to help other people.

Today’s Challenge: How did your roots shape you into the person you are today?