How is success measured?

It was in January 1962 when Barnsley P. Wentworth III told his father that he was not going to be a doctor: he was going to be a clown. Without hesitation, his father replied, “Then you’ll never amount to anything. Consider yourself a failure.” That was the time when Barnsley P. Wentworth III fell from the grace of his father, he changed his name to Juggles and became a clown. It was his greatest joy. It was his greatest passion. And he never made more than $50 per job.

It was a hot afternoon in July, and Juggles was driving back to his hotel after working all day at a county fair, when he took a wrong turn into a trailer park and saw the mailbox covered in balloons: Juggles’ business card. a child’s birthday party. . He sat there for a moment, looked at his watch, shook his head, sighed, and grinned as he put his rubber nose back on and jumped out of the car. He saw a small red head peeking through the curtain of flowery sheets followed by piercing squeals as the door was flung open and the children ran towards him like excited puppies searching for food. He would never forget that sound or the look of wonder on the mother’s face as he whispered thank you and began to believe again. Or the pure adoration on the birthday boy’s face as Juggles signed his cast and solemnly vowed never to wash his arm again as he hugged Juggles’ striped leg and that moment was seared into his memory as he whispered thank you and began to believe again.

Juggling never stopped being a clown. Every day. He stayed with his dream and continued to be his passion. Even when his hair fell out and he was too weak to touch his nose, even from bed, when the little fans that were left had to come to him. It was March of 1998 when Juggles died, sporting a big red nose and a smirk. He never earned more than $50 per job.

How do you measure success?