What is your definition of success?
Happiness. The level of happiness you are able to attain is how I measure my success. I am always checking with my son, “Am I happy? Does this make me happy?”
How do you manage your personal finances?
For a very long time, I have known how to be sensible with my money and spending habits. One time, I think I was in my early 20s and I got this really fat paycheck with all these “zeros” in it. I ran through it in probably about a month and a half. It should have a least lasted me two years, and I had nothing to show for it. I didn’t have a house — just a new car. I learned that lesson early, and I was encouraged to hire a business manager. I know you hear all these horror stories about business management but I was lucky enough to hire a really good business manager who gave a lot of good tips on money management and tax preparation. These are things we are not taught [about]; how to manage our money and when to spend it. I have always lived within my means or even below [my means]. You won’t see me on [MTV’s] “Cribs” with five cars in the driveway and seven bedrooms that I don’t even use. My life is all about happiness, not excess.
