| What does success mean to you? This can be a | | | | different to society. John stays home and takes |
| difficult question because we often look to others | | | | care of three children, while Sandra, a petite blond, |
| as examples. | | | | leaves each morning with a metal lunch box and a |
| We see the Smiths down the street with a | | | | hard hat and works in construction. |
| beautiful home, a swimming pool and a new car. | | | | Would you classify them as a success? |
| By the looks of things, we might consider the | | | | Based on the information provided, you probably |
| Smiths successful, since most people tend to | | | | would not. But going behind the scenes, we |
| base success on material possessions. | | | | discover that they are happy and each is living |
| But are they, or is it just a front to try to | | | | the life of their dreams. |
| impress the neighbours? | | | | When John was a child, his parents never seemed |
| For all we know, they could hate what they are | | | | to be around. They were always busy at work or |
| doing, they could be heavily in debt and not very | | | | elsewhere. When John was a teenager, he set a |
| happy. So why do we judge people by their | | | | goal for himself to be a parent and his dream |
| external appearances and material possessions | | | | was to stay home and raise children. Today, John |
| and compare ourselves with their apparent | | | | stays home and parents full-time. |
| success? | | | | As for Sandra, she used to work in the corporate |
| Is that what success is all about to you? | | | | world but always had a passion to get involved in |
| Success means different things to different | | | | high-rise construction and leave landmarks around |
| people. The reality is, success means whatever | | | | the world. |
| you want it to mean for you. Don't compare | | | | Is each partner doing what they want to be |
| yourself with others and what they think success | | | | doing? Are they successful? Do you think they |
| means. Believe it or not, you are already | | | | care what society thinks of them? |
| successful in many different ways. You just | | | | They are living their life from the inside out. Isn't |
| haven't taken the time to realize it yet. | | | | that what success is all about? |
| I am sure you've succeeded in accomplishing | | | | Look back again at the two different ways we |
| many of the things you desire in life, such as | | | | have looked at success. In the first example, we |
| learning to ride a bike, learning to read and write, | | | | looked at success from an external point of view |
| graduating, buying a car or a home, finding the | | | | and we compared ourselves to others. |
| right person and getting married, having children, | | | | In the second example, we considered success |
| and so on. These are all desires or goals that you | | | | from an internal point of view which is a view of |
| have accomplished. | | | | our desires in life and they don't have to revolve |
| You have succeeded so far in your life, haven't | | | | around money, power or material things. |
| you? | | | | Your desire could be for a certain lifestyle, |
| Let's take a look at two couples. Peter and Mary | | | | education, career, marriage or anything you want |
| dress really well, drive BMWs, live in a beautiful | | | | to have, to be or to do. |
| home and always appear to have money to | | | | Success is the progressive accomplishment of a |
| spend. Would you classify them as a success? | | | | worthy goal or idea. |
| Based on the information provided, you probably | | | | If there is something you want to have, to be or |
| would. But if we go behind the scenes, we | | | | to do and you move forward toward |
| discover that they are not happy in their jobs, | | | | accomplishing that desire, you will succeed. |
| they are in debt over their heads and their only | | | | Success is not just about material things, it's |
| goal is for one of their fathers to die so that they | | | | about you. |
| can inherit his money. | | | | Success is not about how society sees you but |
| How many people do you know that live a life of | | | | how you see yourself. It is an inside out approach |
| "fake success"? | | | | to success. You have to know yourself and your |
| They are living their life from the outside in. Is this | | | | personal motivators if you want to travel the |
| what success is all about? | | | | road of personal success and happiness. |
| Another couple, John and Sandra, appear a little | | | | How do you see yourself? |