One clear signal that someone will be successful is that while everybody else is out chasing money and validation, they’re quietly building something inside that no one else can take away.
There’s a formula.
First, I hope we can agree that there's nothing inherently wrong with money or status. (If you're a good person, I hope you get lots of both.)
The problem is that money and status don't equal success.
If you don't believe me, ask a miserable millionaire. Ask somebody with shelves lined with awards who still feels empty inside if they feel successful. As I’ve written here before, success isn't success if it doesn't feel like success.
And now, the formula, which I stole it from one of the most successful coaches in sports history: John Wooden.
Under Wooden’s leadership, the UCLA Bruins won the national championship ten times in twelve years—seven of those back to back to back to back. And here’s how he defined success:
“Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of the self-satisfaction in knowing that you've made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
So what is success?
Peace of mind.
And where do you get peace of mind?
Self-satisfaction.
And where in the world does self-satisfaction come from?
Knowing that you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.
So, if you don't feel successful, it's not because of dollars in your bank account. It's not because of how few people know (and cheer) your name. It might be because, deep down, you realize you aren't showing all the way up.
You aren't being the best version of yourself, even though you're capable of more. (I know the feeling well.)
So again, I hope you get the money. I hope you get the stuff. I hope you get the status.
But most importantly, I hope you show all the way up. I hope you do everything in your power to become the best of which you are capable. And I hope you inspire everyone around you to do the same.
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