I am not successful (Yet)

Whenever you look at LinkedIn you see success. XX under YY lists, panels galore and everyone talking about how they have achieved, succeeded, and triumphed over insurmountable odds.? Everyone who posts looks so successful.

I want to challenge that and tell you that I am not successful yet.

When I was younger, I wanted to change the world, become well known and focus on how great of a positive impact I could have on things from Climate to the Middle East Peace Process. While I have done interesting things, I have not certainly achieved the things that 25 year old Ziv wanted to do and so according to a young me, I have not achieved success.

That said, over time I have changed my definition of success. It is mostly comprised of having just enough money to keep my family safe and spending more time with my wife and kids (and dog, Saint).

While I still want to have a positive impact on the world, I recognize that my focus is better served on the micro changes in my life and not the macro changes that feel so far away. I don’t need to prove that I can achieve, but rather be a role model for those who are close to me. This is what drives me to be a better father, husband, boss, and person.

And to be fair, until now I have not achieved even those targets, but at 43 I am still young enough to change for the better.

So why am I not where I want to be yet?

-????????? Background and where I started affected my early trajectory.

-????????? Taking risks that may have paid off a bit later than expected (for example, moving to Indonesia).

-????????? Still not being able to be as personable as society wants me to be, charisma and charm (as my amazing wife reminds me) are not my strong suits.

-????????? Being direct and often challenging to those in power (probably an unresolved issue from my youth) has also resulted in quite a few career halting incidents.

-????????? Trying to take shortcuts through at least one move in my career (being too close to a person I should not have been) and not being prepared enough for others (my first startup, wow if I could slap young me then).

-????????? Finally, choosing the wrong mentors multiple times, looking for people who would expect a transactional relationship instead of a growth focused one.

So why am I telling you that I am not successful yet?

Firstly, I want people to know that while LinkedIn may make it seem so, professional lives will never be perfect or play out the exact way you expect.

Secondly, that the old saying -- fall 9 times and get up 10 -- is true as you cannot fail until you stop and success can still be had no matter how old you think you are.

Thirdly, I am very interested in everyone’s growth journey, with a focus on intellectual honesty, being authentic, and thoughtful. This article is a start for me and I hope to share more with those who would like to read it.

Today is the first Day of the Rest of your Life.