Success excites us!
It provides us with evidence that we are capable of achieving regardless of the obstacles we may have had to overcome. Additionally, our achievements serve as further proof that we are capable of even greater success in the future.
Needless to say, success means different things to different people.
Some think of success in terms of what they hope to get—achievement, wealth, fame, recognition, respect, feeling valued.
Others see success in terms of their ability to earn a certain income which would allow them to live in a particular neighborhood, own a particular model car and be able to take multiple vacations each year to exotic destinations.
Still for others, success represents power or status in the community.
What does success mean to you? However you may choose to define it, one thing is clear, we all clamor for it and to varying degrees, dedicate ourselves to its achievement.
Of course, that kind of success—accumulating wealth, collecting toys, enjoying prestige and status, collecting amazing experiences, etc, is incredibly rewarding but there is a different kind of success (or perhaps more accurately, a different level of success) that I would like to explore in this article. One called significance.
Significance is success which:
Takes us beyond our own imaginations of ourselves to discover our real potential.
Gives us a sense of fulfillment.
Leaves a legacy behind.
In our society today, we have allowed success to become inextricably linked to material gain and outward appearance.
But what if we redefined success?
What if success was not just about how much you can grow your bank balances but it was also about personal growth?
What if it wasn’t just about your accomplishments, status and power but also about contribution to the greater good?
What if it wasn’t just about self-aggrandizement but also about warm relationships, and genuine happiness?
In other words, finding purpose in everything you do.
What I am saying is that we shouldn’t just strive for success as we traditionally define it but we should also seek significance.
Success says, “I will get.” Significance says, “I will give.”
Our lives are meant to be given away —to significant causes, to loving families, friends in need, and to lasting relationships.
And so, your challenge is to find a way to serve others with your gifts— your time, your talent and your treasure.
Keep On Pushing!