What is your yardstick for Success?

The title of today’s post is in the question that everyone needs to carefully think about very well before offering to answer. The question is so important because it affects our lives in so many ways. The answer determines our drive in any vocation, it propels us to go on and also helps us to assess ourselves by judging whether we are still on course or not.

How do you know that someone is successful? What is the very yardstick that determines that a person’s life, job, business or vocation is a success? Is success measured by the amount of earnings gained by a person? or Is it a function of the number of customers a business or organization services that determines the success of such a business? Is it the billions of dollars/pounds that accrues to the entity concerned that qualifies one as being successful? A lot of questions here you will say, but the truth is, we need to be able to examine all factors properly to know the yardstick for success.

In our world today, we have billionaires and millionaires with an array of businesses and franchises to their credit and they all have very high status within the society. They enjoy a lot of respect, honour and high social status due to their wealth. Can we say they are successful? Is success measured by the amount of money I have in my account? or my real estates around the world? or the number of jets I have in my hanger? or the kind of cars I drive? or how much I spend on social events daily? Can I classify myself to be a success if I have so much that can last up to the forth generation in my lineage? Well, even though all the above are truly very good status to have, I believe the definition of true success is summed up in fulfilling the very purpose of being alive.

The reason for our existence on earth as human beings are very unique and we all need to take time to identify this early so that we will be able to follow it well. It is doing what we are supposed to do here on earth that we can find true success indeed. A sprinter is just like any other being on the race track…he is not there to be the umpire, neither is he there to clear the tracks of debris, but he is there to run and win the race.

“Our destination determines our Preparation” – Olanrewaju Lewis

When Bill Gates started out with the mission of having a product capable of helping people around the world to perform several tasks through the use of a computer, his vision was to have this product installed on every desktop computer in the world, one would wonder whether he envisaged becoming the richest man in the world today through this goal. The preparation was driven by the desire to solve a problem and in solving this problem or challenge, some benefits came which in the eye of the world is termed as success but I think the success was in achieving the mission he set-out to accomplish at the beginning.

One important factor here is that, when we are able to identify that vocation, activity or event that gives us great joy, we’re very much on our way to a successful life because, it is when we find joy in what we do that we would be successful in it. A corollary to this is that; successful people find great joy in what they have mastered to do i.e. they have been able to maximise the use of their talents and gifts very well.

“A life that is void of mastery of use of inherent gifts, talents and skills is a complete waste” – Olanrewaju Lewis

We will surely need to practise and become perfect in it to really make impact, but it is in doing this that we will find joy and escape the rat race inherent in the world.

So I ask again, what is your yardstick for success? Lets share our views…

Written by Olanrewaju Lewis - Visit Website

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