1. Don’t Let Anyone Define “Success” For You
In the words of Srinivas Rao, host of The Unmistakable Creative podcast: “At some point, I realized that I had to give up other people’s definition of success. This is one of the most difficult things to give up because it is so deeply embedded in our cultural narratives that it becomes the standard by which we measure our lives. Even as entrepreneurs we have collectively agreed that fame and fortune are the markers of success. But, giving up other people’s definition of success is incredibly liberating and ultimately leads to the fullest expression of who you are and what matters to you.It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a daily habit of comparing less and creating more.” “Success” doesn’t just mean what the larger mob of society says it means: “lots of money, fame, and fortune.” Many people with fame, fortune, and money have terribly empty, imbalanced lives. Your success isn’t defined by what other people say. No one can define your success but you. If you continue to let others tell you what success is, you’ll never reach it. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be a true success, because it’s not what you really valued. No, living an extraordinary life means defining your own version of what success is. You can begin to spend your time on what really matters to you. Do you really want 1,000,000 Twitter followers? Do you really need to be in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list? Do you really want to be a New York Times Bestselling Author? Or is your version of success more nuanced, more narrowed, more focused, more specific? If you want to live an extraordinary life, your definition of success must be your own. If we are always chasing what other people tell us to, we’ll never experience true success. Let go of other people’s versions of success. Define your own success, and achieve it. That is true success. “Many people think in terms of ‘I have to do what my colleague/neighbour/family member is doing’ instead of ‘I have to do what’s best for me.’” -Grant Cardone