What Do These Quotes All Have in Common?
“I don’t know the key to success but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.” Bill Cosby
“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” Bob Dylan
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.” Albert Einstein
“The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” Benjamin Disraeli
“Success is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile, personal goals.” Paul J. Meyer
I think the commonality is this:
- Each person thought about what success meant to him.
- None defined success in terms of others’ expectations
Have You Taken Time to Define Success In Terms of Your Own Expectations?
If not, then maybe this is the day to start. If you don’t, you are at risk. Think about it. Without a clear sense of what a successful life means to you, then everyone else can control your time, your choices, and your career. You have no firm basis on which to make decisions. And no way to tell yourself, “I’m doing fine!”
That means that others can tell you how they think you are doing and what they think you should be doing. Wouldn’t it be nice to be clear about why they are so wrong?!
I believe you already know what success means to you. What’s missing is the initial act of doing something consistent with what you know to be your true path.
Today is the day to take that first step. If you do, tomorrow may be your first day without regret.
– Adapted from All things Workplace
