Last week I asked my boss on a whim, “What is the secret to success?”
The next day he came to me and said there is no success in success, the two worst things for someone is to give up their dream or to realize it. Success is in the journey.
Miriam-webster.com defines success as:
- obsolete: outcome, result
- a: degree or measure of succeeding
- b: favorable or desired outcome; also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
- one that succeeds
After reflecting on what he said I realized I agreed with some of his thinking.
My goals have typically been about creating a quality day-to-day experience for myself and my family rather than hoping for a big future payoff. When a previous employer asked me to come back, I chose to stay at my current job because the day-to-day interactions I have are great and I would not have a commute.
Working hard for a worthy goal is great but when we were in real estate and had rent houses we hated the majority of what we were doing. The end result would not have justified the time we spent day-to-day waiting for the “payoff”. So I believe you have to enjoy what you are doing. Chose a path that you can be happy with to whatever destination you are going to.
This might seem off track but bear with me.
Last week I was talking to my cousin who is the coolest dude. He read my blog and said he also had a story about my grandpa. I glumly asked if it was some of the weirder stuff he saw on tv. My grandpa is the coolest dude but has mentioned aliens building the pyramids. But my cousin told me about how my grandpa pulled over to talk to him for over an hour. He was just happy to talk to him. I felt like a jerk for not simply enjoying my grandpa more rather than try to refute what he parroted from a televangelist.
I want so much to adopt that coolheaded approach to dealing with life that my cousin makes seem so effortless. I’m a pretty positive person but there are certain things that annoy me or I feel like I have to fight illogical ideologies… but it doesn’t get me anything but upset and at worst creates a separation between whoever I am against.
To have a successful journey I am going to choose from now on to listen and let go. If asked my opinion on a subject I will give it but if it isn’t wanted I’m just going to keep it in (unless it is my son, the baby boy still has some learnin’ to do).
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance – and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
Oprah
Anyway, try to think of what would give you a successful journey in life this week. Is there an end result you are striving for that is more pain than its merits? If you were to die tomorrow and whatever you were struggling for would go undone was the struggle alone worth it?
Great article, I didn’t know you were a poet.
“Anyway, try to think of what would give you a successful journey in life this week. Is there an end result you are striving for that is more pain than its merits? If you were to die tomorrow and whatever you were struggling for would go undone was the struggle alone worth it?” -Sam Watson
It was interesting reading that after so long. I was thinking “the author obviously plagiarized this…”