When you get to my age, you’ll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That’s the ultimate test of how you’ve lived your life.
That’s a quote by Warren Buffett, a man worth an estimated $47 billion.
Despite his wealth, he has apparently learned that success isn’t measured in dollars. In fact, in 2006 he pledged to give away nearly his entire fortune to charities, and he refuses to fund showy monuments to himself–no Warren Buffett libraries or halls for this guy.
What have you learned to be the true measure of success?
If you can get a person, after considered thought, tell their definition of “success”, that person has revealed all you need to know about them.
In my stage of life, gaining the trust of a child on a daily basis so I can influence their life long term.
I don’t know if the definition keeps changing throughout life…I would think so.
An
Success for me = seamlessness. Striving to be the same guy at work, home, church and in the world.
Deeptime,
I had to think about your comment a moment but you’re right. That one definition says it all.
Ed
Ann,
Thanks for not missing the simple things that matter the most. As we get older those simple things, like the love for and from others, loom larger and larger.
Yes, what drives us and defines success does seem to shift some. In his book “Half Time”, Bob Buford suggests the first half of our life is about success and the second half about significance. A shift of focus from self to others.
If we’re walking tightly in the spirit though it would seem it should be always about others.
It’s a journey.
Ed
Evan,
Hummm….Seamlessness…that’s fresh.
That reminds me of the definition of integrity. I read integrity is about being consistency between what’s in our heart and what’s reflected by our actions where ever we are.
Integrity….that’s sure a worthy measure of success.
From my observations your making a great run at it Evan.
Love ya,
Ed