Success: A fantasy
Everybody wants to be successful, but not many people have a clear definition of what ‘success’ is to them. Success is ephemeral, a mirage-ish specter constantly shifting and drifting away from you like a puff of smoke. Many people have all they want yet still crave more. So what is success? In my opinion, it’s a fantasy.
It’s all relative
Like everything else, success is all relative. To one person it may be finding the next meal, to another it may be just staying alive for that day. Some may want to have a seven bedroom mansion on the Riviera, and others may crave buying that island they saw in the Maldives. So where do we start and where do we stop? I suggest benchmarking success against happiness. If you’re happy, then you’ve succeeded.
It’s all in your head
If you’re convinced you won’t be happy until you get those material things you want, then you’ve already lost. Happiness is in the moment. It’s right now. It’s not next year and it’s not after ten. If you live in that daze then all you’ll be is a slave to your boss, the system, or somebody else.
I’m not saying don’t build yourself up and have an awesome career, I’m just saying make sure you know what you want and why you want it. Material things are fleeting but moments last forever.
All being said, here are a few tips to ensure success:
Do what you love
If you do what you love then you’ve already won. It won’t be considered a job, yet you’ll get paid. If you like cheeseburgers imagine waking up every morning looking forward to having a nice juicy delicious cheeseburger. Yum.
Be tenacious
The building blocks of success are simple: Tenacity, tenacity, tenacity.
Never say never
If you want something bad enough, you’ll get it. Just keep banging your head against that door till it opens (or breaks) Never give up. Live rough. Be broke. Fail. Get hurt. Go to war. Most importantly, get back up. As long as you’re in the game you can’t lose.
Lead a great team
Being an entrepreneur is the hardest thing to do, so don’t imagine yourself sitting on a throne with people serving as you sip tea and count money. You have to lead others and motivate them. Leadership has many definitions, but in my opinion its simple: Get your hands dirtier and muddier than your team, and expect them to do the same. Hire slowly and fire quickly.
Do your homework
Jump into life. Don’t jump into business without a plan, parachute, airbags, and an escape route. Measure twice and cut once. If you don’t calculate scenarios, experiment, get feedback, and learn from others, then you’re just wasting time and money.
Think
Think. No seriously. Just think. A lot. All the time.
Conclusion
In conclusion just be happy. Life ain’t worth it. Make sure you are money’s master and not the other way around. If you are satisfied with what you have, then trust me you’re already successful.
