Ten Key Principles You Need To Be Successful

Since my rule is I’ll write a book review to each book I complete this year, it’s taking me longer than usual to complete them. Lately, I’ve been reading more articles than books. I’m making sure that changes this fall. 70 degrees and sunshine calls for an occasional date with a hammock and book! Who agrees?​

This next one is from a man I enjoyed seeing on the “Close Up” stage during the 2019 Country Music Association (CMA) Festival. I’m talking about the CEO of Franklin Entertainment, an award-winning producer, a preacher, motivator, soul mate of the acting goddess Megan Good and best-selling author Devon Franklin.

*No, this is not a review of his latest, “The Truth About Me.” I plan to read that one soon, though.*

This review goes to one of his earlier publications titled “The Success Commandments: Master the Ten Spiritual Principles to Achieve Your Destiny.”

​First off let me start by talking about the riveting introduction he gives in his book. It is an entire word, y’all. I reread it! So much of his introduction feels very personal to me. I related to his burning desire to be something bigger than his circumstance or himself. When that type of feeling hits you, it is unexplainable.

He opens by sharing his personal experience with spiritual validation from God as it pertained to starting his company, Franklin Entertainment, when he did. He talks about the employment battle all creatives face when they are striving to be the best creative they can be but compromising for financial stability in an unrelated, full-time job. It’s hard for creatives to part from steady cash flow in exchange for freelance work that is solely dependent on others’ investment in their artistry. Give this a like if you are a creative that knows the grind is real!

Secondly, Franklin talks about creatives that never leave their jobs or environment out of fear. Because of this, Franklin encourages leaving financial security. He believes personal fulfillment is required to live your calling. I couldn’t agree more. No monetary gain is more important than self-satisfaction. But we all need money, so where’s the compromise expected? When do we stay? When do we leave? How do we know when is the right time to pursue our interest? 

Franklin has the breakdown on all of this in “The Success Commandments: Master the Ten Spiritual Principles to Achieve Your Destiny.” Without giving too much away, I've highlighted my favorite parts of the book.

Highlights from the Book

1. THOU SHALL/THOU SHALT(S): I loved these in the book. They are listed at the end of each chapter as a reminder to apply what you read in the chapter to your daily routine. They were practical and easy to understand. You can tell he really took his time with these. 
2. FAVORITE QUOTES (Jeez, if you only had access to my phone notes of quotes from this book! I spared you) :
   1. “The moment you begin to exchange what makes you different for what makes you ordinary because you want to fit in, you give away that which God wants to use to elevate you and take you elsewhere extraordinary” (Franklin 174).
   2. “Conformity says, ‘Be like that person.’ Distinctiveness says, ‘I know what I have to do professionally and I’ll get it done, but I’m going to do it using my recipe, and I won’t change my recipe into someone else’s’” (Franklin 189).
   3. “God has given us a vision of who we are and what we’re supposed to be. Every day that we get closer to that, we’re happier. Every day that we move further from it, we feel it, consciously or subconsciously. When things happen that upsets us or delays us, or when we experience frustrations and setbacks, the challenge we face is to hold on to that vision, keep trusting and feeding the talent that we know we have, and not let our failures make us doubt who we are” (Franklin 194).
   4. “I’ve found that the most successful people…get back to work” (Franklin 196).
   5. Persistence becomes proficiency…IF you are doing what God has meant for you to do” (Franklin 206).
   6. “You don’t need to gain prominence at the expense of your peace. You don’t need to gain wealth at the expense of your health. You don’t need to gain notoriety and respect at the expense of fulfillment and gratitude. So, what does it profit you to gain everything yet lose your soul in the process? Answer: nothing” (Franklin 238).
   7. “True success is spiritual; it comes with material reward, but it’s really about peace, a sense of purpose and joy, and giving to others…At the end of the day, the peace that exists in your soul is the true barometer for your success. God will reward your good work with the peace that passes all understanding, and that peace cannot be achieved through material gain” (Franklin 239).

“The Success Commandments: Master the Ten Spiritual Principles to Achieve Your Destiny” was my first Devon Franklin read but it WILL NOT be my last. This book has moved in a way no other book has. At this point in my life, I’m looking for the “real” in everything so I couldn’t have read this at a better time. It was encouraging, uplifting, inspiring and so much more than I thought I’d get in an Amazon purchase. I highly recommend this book as it now holds a special place in my bookworm heart!

Until next time, go read!

☮️ + ☀️


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*If you need help learning to read, visit Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC). They love teaching literacy. For more information, visit their homepage or office at Nashville Adult Literacy Council.*

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