In Aesop’s fable about the goose and the golden egg, the farmer visits his goose’s nest one day and finds a golden egg. Morning after morning, he collects a solid gold egg from the goose and becomes very rich. One day, hoping to get all his goose’s gold at once, he killed the goose, only to discover the goose was empty.

“Success is not a get-rich-quick scheme,” said motivational author Glenn Van Ekeren. “It is, however, a day-by-day process. Short-term personal profits are not synonymous with long-term prosperity.”

Don’t be like the farmer and ruin your chances for long-term success by being impatient.

One of my friends gave me this advice, which I have followed faithfully over the years. Before you go to bed each night, celebrate your successes of the day. Identify at least one great thing that happened. Think about what accomplishments made you most proud. When you focus on your daily success, you’ll look forward to producing more success tomorrow.

And I would add, there is no such thing as an “overnight success.”

Success is not easy. It might take longer than you expect. There will be days when you question yourself and wonder if it’s worth it or if you are on the right path. Trust your gut. Pay your dues. Work hard and work smart, and eventually success will come.

John Wooden didn’t win his first national college basketball title until his 16th season coaching at UCLA. Starbucks didn’t open its fifth store until 13 years after being founded. Sam Walton didn’t open his second store until seven years after creating Walmart.

Success takes time.

I remember reading about a former president of General Motors who started out as a stock boy. At his retirement, a reporter asked him if it were possible for a young person starting at the bottom today to get to the top.

“Indeed it is,” he replied. “The sad fact, however, is that so few young people realize it. Keep thinking ahead of your job! Let no one or anything stand between you and a difficult task. Let nothing deny you the rich opportunity to gain strength in adversity, confidence in mastery. Do each task better each time. Do it better than anyone else can do it!”

Just as brand names tell consumers about the products they buy, a personal brand tells other people about you: your strengths, goals and commitment to success. Put some work into defining and establishing your brand so it reflects the image you want. Try these ideas.

-- Identify your established strengths. Talk to your co-workers and your manager about what you’re known for -- the strengths they depend on, the tasks you’re the “go-to” person for, and so on. Decide which of these to emphasize (by volunteering for specific projects more often, for example) and focus on those areas and tasks.

-- Be authentic. You can’t fake your personal brand -- not for long, anyway. The key to making it work is being honest about who you are and what you can do. You can’t get out of unwanted work just because it doesn’t fit your brand, but you can position yourself for assignments that match your strengths by focusing on what you do best.

-- Adopt a unique style. You want to stand out, so do something different. It can be simple, or as challenging as developing a reputation for volunteering for the toughest assignments.

Snoopy, the memorable “Peanuts” cartoon pet, sat at the entrance of his doghouse and lamented, “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog. SIGH. There’s so little hope for advancement.”

Don’t be like Snoopy and sit there droopy-eyed. Go out and make something happen.

I constantly preach about the importance of nurturing your network, but there’s one very important element of our networks that often takes a backseat to the business contacts we build. That is our invaluable network of friends.

For so many of us, focusing our attention on our work life is a high priority. That’s a noble goal, but what finally happens when we’re off the clock?

We need to concentrate our efforts on developing a network of friends. I can honestly say that my friends have saved me from making big mistakes, celebrated my victories and made difficult days better by just being there. And they know I will return the favor.

I have dear lifelong friends, business friends, neighborhood friends, golf friends, office friends, friends where I worship. And so on. I confide my deepest secrets to some. I ask for advice from several. I enjoy activities with others. All have impacted my life in important ways.

Great literature, movies and music lyrics are full of references to friendship. James Taylor reminded us that when you need a helping hand, “you’ve got a friend.” Bette Midler gave us a long list of reasons why “you’ve got to have friends.” One of the most successful and longest-running television shows of all time was “Friends,” which will probably continue to run in syndication when the stars are old and gray.

Henry David Thoreau, one of America’s most famous naturalists and philosophers, gave the following definition of friendship: “A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us ... Friendship is never established as an understood relation. It is a miracle which requires constant proof. It is an exercise of the purest imagination and of the rarest faith.”

Friendship is so important that we celebrate it several times during the year. February is International Friendship Month, and Old Friends, New Friends Week is the third week of May. Congress declared a U.S. holiday in honor of friends by a proclamation in 1935. Since then, Friendship Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August (it was Aug. 6 this year). And September is Friendship Month.

It might not be a Hallmark holiday, but Friendship Month is still a great time to go over some tips on how to build, nurture and maintain great friendships.

Be open -- Share your feelings honestly. Open communication is important in building lasting friendships and an unwavering support system. And don’t forget to tell your customers how much you appreciate them.

Be receptive -- No one is perfect, and there may be times when you don’t agree with your friends’ choices. Show them that you care and respect them. It’s OK to share your opinions, because both sides need to practice acceptance. The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail and not his tongue.

Make friendships a priority -- No matter how busy you get, don’t forget your friends. Friendship is a responsibility -- not an opportunity. Reconnect with old friends and continue to make new ones. Make friendship a habit, and you will always have friends.

Listen -- Part of being a true friend is listening to their problems and concerns without interrupting or always trying to fix things. Sometimes all they want is a receptive ear. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say.

Express gratitude -- Don’t forget to show your appreciation for your friends and let them know how much their friendship means to you. One close friend is worth more than 1,000 acquaintances.

Considering all these points, ask yourself this: If you were another person, would you like to be a friend of yours?

Mackay’s Moral: A good friend is someone who thinks you’re a good egg even though you’re slightly cracked.

A young man was applying for a job at a big company. During the interview, the hiring manager asked if the candidate’s father had paid for his education.

The young man said that his father had passed away when he was young. He added that his mother took in laundry to pay for his schooling. He offered to help her, but his mother always told him to concentrate on his studies.

The hiring manager asked the candidate to do him a favor and go home and wash his mother’s hands and come back to see him in the morning.

The young man was confused but wanted the job, so he did as he was told. It was the first time he noticed how wrinkled and bruised his mother’s hands were. He realized this was the price his mother paid for his education and future.

The next morning, he returned to the hiring manager, who inquired, “Did you do as I asked, and what did you learn?”

The young man nodded and said, “I learned appreciation. Without my mother, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I also learned the importance and value of family relationships.”

The manager said, “This is what I’m looking for -- someone who can appreciate the help of others and who doesn’t think money is the only goal in life. You’re hired.”

Appreciation is an essential need for all of us. Who doesn’t want to be appreciated? Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up and makes them feel happy. It also makes you happy when you witness how you made a difference in others’ lives.

Gallup recently reported that only 15% of employees in the United States are truly engaged in their workplace. Yet nearly 70% of employees say they would work harder if they felt more appreciated.

A Personnel Today survey of 350 human resources professionals found that the greatest factor in workplace productivity is a positive environment in which employees feel appreciated. According to the survey, two-thirds of the respondents said they felt a lot more productive when they received recognition for their work, while the remainder said they felt a little more productive.

Successful leaders across many fields have plenty to say about the importance of showing appreciation. Here’s a sampling.

Motivational speaker and author Tony Robbins said, “Trade your expectations for appreciation, and the world changes instantly.”

Retail giant Sam Walton wrote 10 rules for success, and the Walmart founder didn’t mince words when it came to being thankful. The fifth of Walton’s rules is “Appreciate everything your associates do for the business.”

Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden said: “It is quite possible that the most abused, overused or misused word in our language is the simple word ‘thanks.’ However, when sincerely used I know of no word that can more adequately express one’s feeling of appreciation than ‘thanks.’”

William James, psychologist and philosopher, said, “The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.”

Appreciation should be an everyday occurrence, not an event limited to a special week or event. A plaque on the wall means nothing without ongoing support. People need to know that they are valued every day.

Appreciation has a snowball effect. The more genuine the appreciation toward employees, the better. For example, appreciation helps boost morale and confidence by demonstrating that a person is valued and trusted. This in turn serves as motivation and encourages people to go the extra mile.

Appreciation also increases efficiency. Appreciated employees work harder, which impacts results. Relationships are strengthened. Respect is heightened.

A simple appreciation message can go a long way in developing strong bonds and motivating people. Words of appreciation not only boost the performances of team members or colleagues but also rejuvenate close relationships. A thank-you message for a particular work or effort is an excellent method to develop long-lasting mutual respect.

A young woman experiencing a lack of appreciation decided to do something special for her 13th wedding anniversary. She called a florist and ordered 13 long-stemmed roses that arrived with a card that read, “I love you!” signed by her husband, Bill.

Bill was curious who would send his wife flowers and sign his name. Twenty days later, the mystery was solved when his credit card bill arrived.

Let’s hope he remembered that lesson in time for their 14th anniversary.

Mackay’s Moral: Give appreciation for a little, and you will find a lot.