Comments on: Life Advice from my Stepdad

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 19:57:34 +0000

IMO, I think success links alot to the nature of your motivation. Whether you are internally motivated or one who lives on external influence and motivations.

Success, to me, cannot be self-defined. Once defined, and achieved, you might lose your motivation in life to excel. Its like a carrot that forever dangles in front of us and god forbid should I ever be despondent in life because I am not chasing something to sustain my existence. Its that elusiveness that makes it all the more precious. And I think success can only be achieved on hindsight, when you depart this world knowing that you have done your best for society or even that one thing that made someone else’s life better.

Well, if you are one who thrives on external influences, success will come in many forms and frequently. In that case, it doesn’t really matter how its defined because others will do the work for you.

By: Eugene

Eugene — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:30:33 +0000

good luck finding the next big hit!

By: Adam Rifkin

Adam Rifkin — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:35:43 +0000

If you’re talking about individual success, see Maslow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

If you’re talking about contributing to the collective success of humankind and planet earth… well, you know I believe that everything is deeply intertwingled.

http://ifindkarma.typepad.com/relax/everything_is_deeply_intertwingled/index.html

So… figure out who you are, and be that.

By: david askaripour

david askaripour — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:21:32 +0000

Success is what you make it. Success is that inexplicable feeling you get inside your belly when something really excites you; something that you feel that you have attained in life. Success isn’t something that can be measured, it’s on ongoing cycle with ups and downs, bends and curves. Just keep on living out the things that make you happy in life and things will always fall into place. Keep on moving, dude!

By: Dan Marques

Dan Marques — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:38:47 +0000

Success is a journey, not an endpoint, at least from my perspective. It is a mindset and as you attain certain milestones (financial, personal, educational) it is just one marker on your journey. I think those who are truly successfuly always remain “hungry” and looking for new ways to grow, explore, and provide value to the world around them.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 05:58:35 +0000

A friend of mine from high school has had the same AIM profile since 7th grade, and it’s a quote attributed to Bob Dylan:

“When a man wakes up in the morning, goes to sleep at night, and in between does what he wants to do – that is success.”

So whatever it is you want to do, just do it – Nike has been right all along

By: noah

noah — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:17:11 +0000

i regularly say i want to make an impact or leave a ‘legacy’ before i die. but isn’t affecting one person just as much as affecting a group of people. the idea you really touched or changed a persons life is really wonderful. only then a cynic would say you do that just to feel good about something.

okay that was lame. anyways, i think success is measuring up to what you set out for yourself.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:10:04 +0000

Success, IMO, is giving back to those who helped you throughout your life and helping those who have nowhere else to turn to – success is when the focus of your life shifts away from you.

By: Damon Z

Damon Z — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:34:30 +0000

Success is receiving from other people something they would otherwise like to keep for themselves. (i.e. praises, money and etc…)

By: Jason Fang

Jason Fang — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 23:06:01 +0000

I’ll have to defer to Guy Kawasaki and say that success is being able to say that you’ve improved something with your work. Unfortunately, oftentimes that doesn’t come accompanied with the feedback necessary for ascertaining that impact…