You hear the question quite often — what defines success?
To me, doing what is considered in our society as being ‘practical’, living someone else’s expectations, pursuing a career simply because it can make a lot of money even though it’s not really something that resonates with your spirit, living a life that satisfies society’s norms rather than your own gut instincts isn’t a successful life. Even if it makes you an uncountable fortune. It’s death on two legs.
Maybe that’s where this whole zombie and vampire craze comes from…
Question: What does success mean to you?
Life’s too short to be successful, at least in the common meaning of the term. You have so many things you have to do to get there, and by the time you’ve arrived, your life is almost over.
To me, being successful is having enough to eat, a warm place to sleep, and your time to do with as you wish. That’s about it, simple and sweet.
Well said Chinle. That’s a damn good definition…
There has been too much emphasis on monetary success in our society. To me success encompasses a balance of many factors. Contribution, making a difference and being part of a community are high on my list of values. Having enough money as to be financially free, not being a slave to money, but not slaving all the time to earn it either. In our culture it does occur that people become wealthy doing work they are not in love with, but it is actually more the exception than the rule. A mentor once told me that middle and lower class people often labor under the belief that to become wealthy one has to sell out or compromise morals, which does happen, but generally, the kind of self-made success within our reach mainly happens with supreme dedication, all out heart and a lot of soul, and the majority of the time comes from doing what you love. If it happens otherwise, it isn’t really success anyway, is it?
Thanks David. Good thoughts. No, success doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of money, though it’s often a factor. Devoting your life to money and doing things you don’t really like doesn’t equal success either regardless of how wealthy it might make you.
I’ve always kind of liked the quote that’s often misattributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson:
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
I think success–true success–has nothing to do with money. Its the way you live your life, affect those around you. I guess, as cliché as it sounds, living a Zen life would be success.
Great thoughts my friend, and I agree with you.
I’ve had success in an engineering career: accomplishments and monetarily. Neither fulfilled me. Not sure that the word success is needed in my life. Other words come to mind such as the ones Emerson mentions above. What can we freely contribute to life is what it’s about.
Thanks for your thoughts Monte. I’m not sure the idea of success, at least as it’s perceived in our society, is necessary either.
Success means being better tomorrow than you are today.
i like it…
A great phrase: “death on two legs.” The problem, as we all know, is that creative things don’t always appeal to public taste and therefore don’t provide a living for the creators. Many of us end up giving at least a limited version of our creations away for free on the Internet.
True enough Steven, and part of my own definition of success is that we continue on with our own honest and creative work regardless of public opinion, and whether it generates income or not. Money isn’t the only measure.
I appreciate your stopping by to comment.