Success Defined
The traditional metrics of success often revolve around wealth, titles, and sensational experiences. However, a deeper and more sustainable understanding of success might just be what we need to lead more fulfilling and balanced lives. Let’s explore the nuanced layers of success that go beyond the conventional.
Not: Wealth and Stuff
The common perception ties success to material wealth—possession of luxury cars, expensive homes, and exclusive club memberships. These tangible assets are often seen as the epitome of one’s achievements. Yet, this viewpoint is limited. While financial stability is a component of success, it’s merely the surface. It’s crucial to recognize that a life rich in possessions doesn’t equate to a fulfilled life.
Not: Titles and Power
Many of us equate high-ranking titles and the power that comes with them to success. From prestigious job titles to social recognition, the allure of being in a position of power can be tempting. However, focusing solely on climbing the social or corporate ladder can lead to a hollow existence, devoid of real personal satisfaction and growth.
Not: Experiences
Experiences, from exclusive events to global adventures, often represent success. The ability to afford unique experiences, like attending major sports events or traveling to exotic destinations, adds a layer of richness to life. However, measuring success by experiences alone can lead to an insatiable desire for more, overshadowing the importance of simpler, everyday joys.
Professional Success: Knowledge + Application + Relationships
For most professionals, their goal, whether said or unsaid, is to maximize their opportunities to contribute to their company in a way that leverages their skills and passions. A wise man once said that the key to being in a position to maximize one’s contributions lies in the combination and aggregation of three factors: one’s knowledge, one’s application of said knowledge, and one’s relationships with those in a position to provide opportunities. This powerful trio enables professional success and legitimate personal fulfillment.
Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals
Setting realistic and challenging goals is essential. The journey toward achieving these goals often requires perseverance, adaptability, and a deep understanding of one’s capabilities. Success in this realm is not just about reaching these goals but also about the growth experienced along the way.
Becoming the Best You Can Be
John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach’s classic definition of success is rooted in having the peace of mind of knowing one has done everything within their power to become the best that they could be. When looking at one’s self in the mirror each day, it is incredibly freeing to know that on that day, they gave it everything they could. They were not doing it to please others, but to have the self-satisfaction of knowing they gave their best, which speaks to intrinsic motivation—that’s true success.
Conclusion: A Balanced View of Success
In redefining success, it’s crucial to balance external achievements with internal growth. While wealth and experiences can form part of a successful life, they should not overshadow the essential aspects of personal fulfillment.
By broadening our definition of success, we can aim for a life that is not only rich in material wealth and experiences but also deep in meaning and satisfaction. Ultimately, true success is about living a life aligned with one’s values, gifts, goals, and the pursuit of excellence, based on one’s capabilities and limitations.
