What Is Success?

To me, success is all about being in the process of joyfully creating a life that reflects your highest values, your deepest beliefs and your greatest dreams. There’s a lot in that statement and I invite you to break it down and reflect on it. There’s the part about the “process” of creating life on your terms (the journey really is better than the end). There’s the part about “joyfully” journeying through life because life is meant to be fun. There’s the element of living by your values and beliefs, which is all about being more true to yourself and live life on your terms. And there’s that aspect of chasing your dreams, as these are what get us out of bed each day and fill our hearts with hope.

This reminds me of the words of Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. “. That’s true success.

“To me success is all about being in the process of joyfully creating a life that reflects your highest values, your deepest beliefs and your greatest dreams”

(these are not my thoughts J and are copied from Robin’s book)

Believe in Others

I took my kids to see Hilary Swamk’s move Freedom Writers. It inspired me deeply. Brought tears to my eyes. Made me want to be and do and give more. Made me want to improve things. Profoundly.

One of the things I took away from the film is that the leadership is all about believing in others (and yourself) when no one else does. The kids in the movie were gang members. Tough lives. Hard hearts. But their teacher saw them for what they truly were: smart/good/caring human beings who’d been knocked down and had given up. The school wouldn’t even give them new books – didn’t think they were worth it. But their teacher did. Treated them with respect. Bought the books herself (worked two extra jobs to do it). She challenged them. Celebrated them. Believed in them. And they transformed. Because when you see the best in the people, they’ll give you their best.

I’ve seen it happen in organizations around the world. Develop, honor and inspire people, and they will fly. As the wonderful teacher Leo Buscaglia once said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind world, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring – all of which have the potential to turn a life around”.

“Leadership is all about believing in others (and yourself) when no one else does”

Make Your Mark

In an issue of Best life, I came across a line from George Clooney: “ you only have a short period of time in your life to make your mark”. Obvious? May be . Yet so true.

It’s easy to get so caught up in the daily administrivia that you forget about building your legacy. Easy to become so focused on your problems that you neglect to chase your ideals. Easy to get so pulled into the ordinary pursuits of life that you lose sight of the Extraordinary. Yet, life spins by at an alarmingly fast rate. And if you don’t use each day to do even one thing to make your mark and to advance your vision and to become your brilliance, you may miss what truly counts. Makes me think of the words of consultant Richard, who observed, “ People over 65 were asked ‘ if you could live your life over, what would you do differently?. They said three things – I’d take time to stop and ask the big questions. I’d be more courageous and take more risks in work and love. I’d try to live with purpose – to make a difference”. That says it all.

“If you don’t use each day to do even one thing to make your mark and to advance your vision and to become your brilliance, you may miss what truly counts”

(these are not my thoughts J and are copied from Robin’s book)

Create Your Body of Work

It is early afternoon as I write this and reflecting – about leadership & life.

Just read a little piece in an issue of Vanity fair on Art Buchwald, the writer, who is not 80 and battling kidney failure. Coming close to death brings a human nearer to what’s most important in life. Brings tremendous clarity. Strips away all the accessories that we think are so essential when we are younger. Connects us with the Truth (and the truth sets us free, doesn’t it?)

He was asked, “what is your idea of perfect happiness?” “Being healthy” was the reply. He was asked, “Which talent would you most like to have?” ‘Living” was the reply. Then he was asked, “what is your most treasured possession?” “All of my writing – my 32 books and all of my columns”. The point of wisdom that you and I take away? Greatness comes when you create something with your life that is not only bigger than you but outlasts you. Legitimacy and recognition and prestige and material things are all fine and are all very human pursuits. But there’s something far more important: Legacy. Making a difference. Having an impact. Creating something special. And meaningful.

What body of work will you create over your life so that the generations who follow will know that you’ve been here? What bold acts and brave moves will you make This Very Moment to let the greatness that slumbers within you come out and visit the light of This Very day? What will your “ most treasured passion” look like? And, at the end, what will you have done with all that talent with which you’ve been blessed? Just wondering.

“Greatness comes when you create something with your life that is not only bigger than you but outlasts you”

(these are not my thoughts J and are copied from Robin’s book)