How Should Success be Measured?

Since we come from different backgrounds, possess different levels of access to capital and influence; we believe in the fundamentality of success. Success should not be measured in the conventional sense of material items and wealth.  Measuring or equating success with monetary standards is inaccurate because everyone started from a different point in life. The overwhelming struggles and challenges some go through should be factored into the equation.  Perhaps success should be measured by the level of joy, happiness and peace of mind one possesses. If we change the metric we use in measuring success; the people you think have it all, will probably be disadvantaged with less happiness and joy as the new wealth or success metric.  Hence the fidelity of the saying;  “success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”  You could also switch the word success for determination; with that said…

1. Success is a family escaping from a war-torn zone or ravaged city to the serenity and tranquility of normalcy.
2. Success is a young man or woman graduating university.
3. Success is getting your first job and able to pay your way in life, away from your parents.
4. Success is finally publishing that book.
5. Success is when that girl you like says yes after you summon the courage to ask her out.
6. Success is beating cancer, coming out of a coma
7. Success is surpassing or shedding off the exact number of pounds in weight as the target goal.
8. Success is mentoring a young man or woman to the achieve their highest potential
9. Winning a gold medal is huge success

While these are all success stories above, they should not be trivialized.  The feelings emitted via serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins are the same if one wins $1 or $10 million. However, the pride and joy of children or parents achieving something substantial such as a wedding, giving birth to a child, or the purchase of a new home could be higher; or are equivalent to winning large sums of money.  Wayne Dyer said “if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”  Be grateful, be appreciative and keep striving.  Most importantly, don’t worry about your perceived failures, as they are part of your personal success journey in life.  Given the fact that success means different things to different people, the quote above will suffice to cover its meaning.  If done properly; entrepreneurship is the most difficult endeavor most people will ever engage in.  Often, your family may not support you, your spouse may not understand you, and you will often hear why can’t you get a real [JOB] Just Over Broke.  What most do not understand is that; entrepreneurs are hardwired just like sculptors, musicians, painters, doctors, dancers and writers are wired.  It is in their DNA, that is their calling.  Hence, deviating from, or avoiding one’s calling will be antithetical to one’s life and value proposition.  As an entrepreneur, or to those who follow their dreams, be prepared to be misunderstood or maligned until success comes.  Until the business starts to be profitable and everyone recognizes, appreciates and throws accolades at you, most will not see or appreciate your worth.  Today’s household names failed for years. Unfortunately, no one cares, the world only cares about winning and conventional success.  “We question all of our beliefs except for those that we truly believe and those that we never think to question” – Orson Scott Card