Success?

Posted by Stevieb | Filed under General

I have been getting rather philosophical of late. I turned 28 in June, and my dreams of having a 7 figure bank balance by the time I’m 30 are seeming a little out of touch just now!

It got me thinking why I set the target in the first place. Now lets be honest, when were in our late teens early 20s it’s all about making as much money as you can, as fast as you can. Now that I’m a little older my views on life and success have changed. Back then I would have defined success as having so much money you could choke a whale, and to an extent I still see financial security as a large part of success. But as time ticks on, success seems to be more of an attitude to life as opposed to an actual tangible element. These days, I see success more in terms of happiness and personal self fulfilment.

It seems there is not a solid definition of success that can be used in a wide spectrum, success is something that’s unique to most individuals. Most people I meet or know define being successful in terms of material possessions and ones ability to acquire said possessions. While I think there is nothing wrong with this view, it just seems to me that if I were to still view being a success in terms of material objects, I could never truly be happy; I’d be constantly pushing for bigger and better things and it would eventually consume everything I did.

So I suppose now I have a far more rounded view of success, sure I still want to be wrath of god rich, and one day it’ll happen; however by including other elements of success into my life day to day life just seems more fulfilling. I still think my definition if success is still rather different to most peoples, and could still be viewed as a touch narcissistic, yes I want the money, I want the thriving businesses and all the good stuff that comes with it. But now I want it so that I can not only support my family, but I can provide an elevated quality of life for them. I’m not saying that money solves life’s problems, but it sure does help! In my view there is nothing wrong with ambition, but as long as it’s not all consuming and you keep grounded then you’ll be o.k.

I was talking to a client one day who was telling me that for he doesn’t regret not having a family for one minute. This man is in his 60s and drives all manner of amazing cars, has several beautiful homes, lives the life of a millionaire bachelor and loves every second of it. In his eyes, he is a success; and that’s fine I suppose. It used to be my view of success; but not anymore. I also have a friend that’s perpetually skint, works constantly for little reward and hasn’t got a bean to his name. But he has the support of friends and family and seems equally as happy as other I know with money. Now, he sees being successful in terms of the people he surrounds himself with, the life he leads and the happy times he has, and is in no way connected to income. He is happy, he is a success.

I think if I can find the happy medium without losing my drive for self improvement I can’t go far wrong. As long as I keep appreciating the friends, family and situation I’m fortunate to have them I suppose I’m a success too.

Bugger that, in fact I’m a loser until I get myself an Aston Martin; THEN I’m a success! :D

Permalink | October 8th, 2009

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