Three Minute Leadership: Defining Success
To: the Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
Great leaders each have a unique definition of what success in life means. Writing about success, Anne Sweeney beautifully captures this uniqueness writing: “Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” There are many different definitions, each with its own inspiring focus that touches a different facet of life and the human experience. Here are a few examples:
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou
“My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel a ton of pleasure and very little pain – and because of your lifestyle, have the people around you feel a lot more pleasure than they do pain.” – Tony Robbins
“Success is clarity of my intention… and reaching that intention while being true to myself and with joy.” – India Arie
“The definition of success is getting many of the things money can buy and all the things money can’t buy.” – Zig Ziglar
“I see women going anywhere they want to. And I do mean want to. Because a lot of people measure success merely by position, title and salary. I think women feel comfortable enough in their own skin to put that secondary to what they want. The don’t have to define success by the measure of society.” – Charlene Li
“Two things that define success in life: The way you manage when you have nothing and the way you behave when you have everything.” – Akon
These thoughts stimulate our thinking of our own definition of success. Ralph Waldo Emerson brings grandeur, humanity and inspiration in his own definition of success:
“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.”
Whatever our definition, may it reflect our joyous life’s purpose and meaning. May we jubilantly exclaim at the end of our magnificent journey: This is to have succeeded!
May you and yours have a joyous and Happy Easter and a Happy Passover!!!
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Mike
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