6 Lies About Success

There are many lies about success. It’s easy to believe these lies, and doing so will distort your perception of what real success is.

1. It’s all about the money. Success isn’t all about the money, even though that is what some people believe success to be. It isn’t about money, even though that is how the media portrays success. There are plenty of people with money that aren’t successful when measured on any other scale. No one would call Mother Theresa or Gandhi failures, even though they wouldn’t fare well on this scale. It’s not money.
2. It’s not about not having money. If success isn’t only about money, money is a scorecard of sorts. It is a reflection of the value that you create. Money provides you with security, experiences, and choices. Money also allows you to give back at a greater level. Not having any money doesn’t guarantee that you are successful, and there are plenty of people with no money who also aren’t successful on any other scale. It’s not about not having money.
3. It’s about being popular. Some people with a measure of fame are perceived to be successful. And on that one measure, you might believe that they are successful. But fame is no indication of success either. Many of the people with names that are well-recognized are not successful when measured another way. It’s not fame.
4. It’s about being beautiful on the outside. There are people who are beautiful on the outside that are hideous on the inside. Time destroys physical beauty. Time destroys one’s athletic prowess, too. But time can never destroy true success. It’s not physical beauty.
5. It’s about being smart. Some of the smartest people you will ever meet will also be horrible to other human beings. They might have parchment, prizes, and awards for their intellectual prowess, but none of those prove success outside of a very, very narrow measurement. It’s not intellect.
6. It’s about natural talent. Talent is no sign of success. Many of the most talented people never do anything with their talents, and many people with far less talent do more with what little they have. It’s not about having talent.

The truth about success is that it is defined by each of us individually. My success is not the same as your success.

My success is about living up to my potential, making the contribution I am here to make, and doing something meaningful with my life.

Your success is about living up to your potential, making the contribution you are here to make, and doing something meaningful with your life.