HOW DO YOU DEFINE
SUCCESS
I have heard
it said that the way to be successful is to set and work toward goals that are just
beyond your reach to achieve.
I guess, but
it depends on how you define success.
If you
define success as achieving at a very high level, or as becoming powerful, or
wealthy then the above formula might work.
If you
define success as being healthy, happy, and satisfied with life, the above
formula may leave you frustrated and unfulfilled and therefore not successful.
How do I
define success? Well, being that I am
not in a position of power, or wealthy, or have never achieved anything at a
very high level, I better choose the later definition.
I believe in
setting goals that are easily attainable.
I can provide a roof over my family's head and food on the table. Goal achieved.
I can provide a roof over my family's head and food on the table. Goal achieved.
I can eat
well, exercise and if I am lucky stay fairly healthy. I have outlived many of my powerful, wealthy,
high achieving peers. Goal achieved.
I want my
children to grow healthy, stay off drugs, and become positive productive
citizens. Goal achieved.
I would like
a functioning car, a color TV, air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. Goal achieved.
Al Gore
wanted to be President of the United States…FAILURE!
Nick Saban
wants to win the College National Football Championship every year…FAILURE!
Tiger Woods
wants to win every golf tournament…UTTER FAILURE!
Oprah wants
to establish her own highly rated TV network…FAILURE!
These and so
many others have clearly failed in life while I am a complete success.
My ex-wives
wanted to marry a powerful, wealthy, and high achieving man…FAILURE!
Success is
really quite easy. Set easily achievable
goals.
Tomorrow I intend to wake up above ground.
Tomorrow I intend to wake up above ground.
I hope to have many
successful tomorrows.
I absolutely agree with you, Joeh!
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I set no goals at all, so when I achieve something it's like double-success
ReplyDeletelove the perspective. :)
ReplyDeleteI had many grandiose plans along the way. To my credit, I never talked much about them because people are always standing by waiting for you to fail.
ReplyDeleteSo, even though not much came to fruition, I am still a success. Maturity and wisdom have taught me the value of all the things you mentioned. My reasonably well adjusted family is also a major success.
While I think big thinkers and big doers are necessary in life, they only provide one or two aspects of what life is all about. The rest of us provide the rest.
I defined success as having prescription sunglasses.
ReplyDelete:-)
Pearl
I don't have any big goals. Just day to day living and keeping my family happy.
ReplyDeleteMy philosophy: Aim low, reach your goals, avoid disappointment!!
ReplyDeleteLife is good most of the time. I'm happy to wake up alive.
ReplyDeleteYour logic may be convalesced but it's too powerful for me to argue with.
ReplyDeletesir joeh! but I believe in setting goals that are a little bit difficult to attain so it is more challenging yeah? Cheers for all the goals achieved! ^^
ReplyDeleteBeing someone who prefers to play more than work, I set my sights pretty low I guess.
ReplyDeleteA day spent with laughter to me is a huge success. Also "a functioning car, a color TV, air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter" sounds pretty darn successful. Throw in an above 500 baseball season for my Marlins and I could challenge Bill Gates.
Except for having some extra money, I've met enough goals.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. Not cranky but excellent.
ReplyDeleteI'll drink to that!
ReplyDeleteI define success as making my primary insurance company admit that they're my primary insurance company and then process my claims. I have not yet achieved success, though I've been trying since December 20.
ReplyDeleteI want my children to grow healthy, stay off drugs, and become positive productive citizens.
ReplyDeleteI achieved 3 out of 4 on that one, but that screw-up is turning himself around and becoming a responsible citizen. Better late than never, or in his case, better late than dead. I was so relieved the day he looked me in the eye and said "I wish I'd listened to you years ago."
Your definition of success is great!
ReplyDeleteOddly, I've nevert been much of a goal setter. I'll set one, then immediately move on to something else. Maybe I have that attention deficit oh look a puppy.
S
I love it! I am totally using this definition of success from now on. I too am more successful than Al Gore and Oprah Winfrey!
ReplyDeleteSuch wisdom from one so young!
ReplyDelete