To achieve success in life, you first must know what success is. What does success mean to you? What does it look like in your mind? Everyone must define success in his or her own terms.
Marketing messages bombard us daily trying to define success. Our popular culture works hard to sell a commercial version of “success.”
The images seen every day in the media tell you what you should own if you are truly successful. Clothing companies tell you what you should wear and how you should look. Images and messages of “successful” people and the size and style of home they live in, how big the swimming pool is and all the associated luxuries bombard us constantly.
What is your vision of success? Is it driven by images of movie stars or business tycoons? Maybe you equate success with images of sports figures. Ask people from all around the world about popular movie stars and professional athletes and you will get an immediate and enthusiastic response.
The reason movie stars and professional athletes are successful has very little to do with what they own, where they live or how much television or media coverage they get. They are successful because they decided what they wanted and went out and got it. These people thrive on their definition of success and are passionate about it.
Michael Jordan, considered the most admired sports figure in the world, achieved the highest level of success by knowing what he wanted and pursuing it with passion. However, his success did not come without a lot of hard work and effort.
Marketing messages bombard us daily trying to define success. Our popular culture works hard to sell a commercial version of “success.”
The images seen every day in the media tell you what you should own if you are truly successful. Clothing companies tell you what you should wear and how you should look. Images and messages of “successful” people and the size and style of home they live in, how big the swimming pool is and all the associated luxuries bombard us constantly.
What is your vision of success? Is it driven by images of movie stars or business tycoons? Maybe you equate success with images of sports figures. Ask people from all around the world about popular movie stars and professional athletes and you will get an immediate and enthusiastic response.
The reason movie stars and professional athletes are successful has very little to do with what they own, where they live or how much television or media coverage they get. They are successful because they decided what they wanted and went out and got it. These people thrive on their definition of success and are passionate about it.
Michael Jordan, considered the most admired sports figure in the world, achieved the highest level of success by knowing what he wanted and pursuing it with passion. However, his success did not come without a lot of hard work and effort.
Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore at his high school. “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it and that usually got me going again.” He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship. Jordan knew what he wanted and made it his mission to accomplish it. By staying focused on his goal, he ended up leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championship titles.
The common denominator of all successful people is their passion for their dream. They have defined what they want from life and are willing to do what it takes to reach their dreams. Define what you want from your life and be willing to pursue it with the same passion and commitment.
“A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one’s path, not chasing after the dreams of others.”
- Chin-Nihn Chu
You could to choose to be like Lily Tomlin who once said, "I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific."
A life without vision is a life left to drift and take whatever is thrown your way. If you wait too long to decide what you want from life, you may look back and agree with Ms. Tomlin!
By Dennis A. Kelley
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