The longing for success is deeply human. It reflects our innate desire to matter, be relevant, to develop and grow, to keep raising the bar and to shape the world around us. It also – sometimes mistakenly – leads us to believe that success helps attain that ultimate goal for humans: inner peace and happiness.

Success is commonly understood as the achievement of a desired aim or goal. Its meaning, thus defined, is deeply personal. Somehow, along the way humanity seems to have created currency to measure and thus compare “success” across people. And, in the process, success seems to have got equated to wealth, fame, status and power. This, though, is a definition that excludes so much of humanity. Just 1.5% of the global adult population holds nearly half the world’s total wealth. According to an estimate, there are 300 million CEOs in the world, about 3.5% of the world’s population. Using the currency version of success runs the risk of  making a very large part of humanity feel unfulfilled. It also is a definition that places a huge amount of stress on those who are trying to be successful by this definition because, as the numbers above show, the pyramid is very narrow at the top.

I am not for a moment advocating the blunting of drive and ambition which is so important for humanity. But is it time for us to question whether we need to redefine what success to an individual actually means?

For many, it is not how much they have but how they feel that makes them feel good about themselves. Mental and physical health should be more important than wealth to all, but to this category it surely matters more.

For some, it is not who they are that matters but how they can help others become better versions of themselves that defines their success.

For others, there is no success in taking from the universe; it is in giving and giving back that they find true fulfilment.

Some have realised that there is no end to going after more and more. It is in knowing when you have enough that success and peace is achieved.

Is the single mother from an under privileged background who works day and night to ensure her progeny break free from her economic condition not successful?

It might be time to consider whether the currency we have conveniently used to measure success needs to be demonetised. And, in its place we need to get back to the realisation that success is deeply personal. It’s every individual’s journey and needs to be celebrated.  Why should we let society dictate an individual’s measure of success?

Do share your own definition of success and what it means to you.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/linksrinivasan_the-longing-for-success-is-deeply-human-activity-7330437412176769025-6tjx