Not too long ago I was asked why I don’t want to be successful.
Without pause, I said, “I am successful.”
A conversation ensued and it was clear that “success” meant material affluence. And again, I reiterated that I was successful. The conversation got lost, in the end, because we were at an impasse on what we defined as success.
Then today, I was doing some consulting work, and I was told, “You could do anything you want. You could be really successful.”
Let me say it again. I. AM. SUCCESSFUL. It’s like talking to a forest of trees.
The word success. It can mean the accomplishment of a goal. Or it could mean attainment of material prosperity. Which, itself, might be the goal.
It almost most certainly always means attainment of material prosperity.
I have to laugh. I understand the dismay in people’s minds about the situation of my choices. I truly do. But, my success is defined by me. I have chosen to not have it defined by anyone else.
I’m the fisherman looking at the MBA, “Success. And then what?”