Don't define what success is

I take a course at a business school. And there is no final exam for that course. Just one question instead 

“List at least 3 things you learnt during the course”

All those who list 3 things fail the exam. 

“List at least 3 things you learnt during the course”

We are all fucked up in our heads to believe that success is determined by the world. 

The 3 things define my success

The task my manager has given to me defines my success

The call my spouse has asked me to make everyday defines my success

The career my parents have asked me to pursue defines my success

This much money defines my success

And yet, one simple glance at all those who we define as successful, will prove conclusively that none of them took the world’s definition of success as theirs. 

In fact, I think successful people are scared to define what success is. 

They are scared they might reach it one day and wouldn’t know what to do thereafter. 

Do yourself a favor

Don’t let the world define success for you. Don’t even define it yourself.

Tanmaya Jain

CEO, inFeedo | Forbes Asia 30u30 | Speaker | ? Music, Mental Fitness | Backed by YC & Tiger Global ??

8 年

"Don’t let the world define success for you." Spot on! "Don’t even define it yourself." Would like to challenge this one. The idea is for every individual to define success in his/her own way internally and evolve this definition as they move ahead in life. Without a definition, wouldn't life be directionless?

Mohammed Ishaque

Manager Sales and marketing

8 年

That is how you discover your work by trying and experience different things that comes your way in life....!!

Ravi Singh - Vice President

Hospital & Med instt Design,Construction & Operations Graduate Electrical Engineer, NIT Kurukshetra, / MBA (Finance) IIMT B'Garh

8 年

nice

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Priyanka Raina Dhar

Content Strategist @ Elsevier India | Medical Writing, Product Strategy

8 年

The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed in these two: common sense and perseverance! (Owen Feltham).

Ankur Agarwal

Leading eCommerce Strategy, Consulting, Digital Transformation, Executive-level Communication, Case Studies, Project Leadership

8 年

Defining a 'goal' for self is important and achieving it is success. What matters is after that do we define another one or not. If we are able to do that, then it is true success.

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