I honestly think it is better to be a failure
at something you love than to be a
success at something you hate.
George Burns
Success. Every business, organization, and person has a definition of success. Though there might be some shared elements, most definitions are unique. What one person sees as success represents failure to another. What one organization celebrates, another ignores. Success is a common, yet elusive, concept.
Many people view success in terms of income. Yet, many wealthy people are extremely unhappy. The same is true for businesses and organizations. Success isn’t found only in the numbers; success is far more complex than that.
Bill Cosby said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” This is true for individuals and organizations. When we try to please everyone, we lose our identity and become slaves to those we intend to serve. When this happens in an organization, the leaders will do whatever it takes to keep people happy. You and I do it when we vacate our passions in order to gain acceptance.
Numbers don’t paint an accurate picture. Numbers are easily manipulated to paint a false picture that provides satisfaction to individuals or organizational leaders. We can get caught up in the pursuit of the world’s definition of success. In doing so, we abandon our unique design. We arrive at a goal only to discover that it holds no real value.
Success is measured in terms of integrity, passion, honesty, and humility. We are successful when we choose truth, contribution, and concern for others. If you’re really the person or organization you claim to be, you won’t have to hype yourself. If you’re relying on hype to maintain the perception of success, you don’t understand what real success is.
Don’t be a success at something you hate because that success is fragile. Live to make a difference right here, right now.
I’ve been teaching Live Your Why for several weeks and the final session is this week. More than fifty people now understand how they are wired, their passions, and how to determine their opportunities. This group is poised to live with purpose and passion. Average in America is a bad goal. We weren’t created to be average; we were created to invest our lives in things that really matter. You can begin your journey now.
Don’t waste any more time. Stop counting and start living. Think about it.
What is your definition of success and how will you know when you’ve achieved it?
