Success is relative.
It depends entirely on ones definition of the term. One man’s success is another man’s
sell-out. One mans fortune is
another man’s ticket to ruin.
Living in a culture that values wealth above all else, it is
no surprise that success has come to be measured by dollar signs, or fame; not
necessarily to people of depth and substance, but to the culture in
general. Personal success has
taken a back seat to financial achievement. Sure, they can go hand in hand, but the likelihood that both
will come to fruition is minimal at best.
Those seeking wealth and status above all else most often do so on the
backs of those less driven, to the detriment of their own families, and to the compromise
of themselves. It is the rare individual
who accomplishes both successfully.
What has long been lacking in our culture, and particularly
in the last twenty years, is the quest for greatness, replaced, as it were, by
the quest for success (fame, notoriety, and wealth). And in today’s world it is actually fame and notoriety that
are most sought after, knowing that wealth will most likely follow. It seems that for those who achieve
fame wealth does not even need to be earned. It just comes to them with the branding, the use of name and
likeness, and the media deals that are thrown at their swollen feet like rice
at a wedding. Everyone, it seems, wants to be connected to fame. It is a sad state of affairs, but,
nevertheless, a universal and all-too-familiar indulgence.
Greatness, however, is much different. It is a goal achieved quietly, and with
a measure of humility. It is not
about fortune or fame. It’s more
about doing something, and doing it well; taking pride in what you’re doing
whether it brings you riches or not.
In a perfect world it would be something you love to do. But if not, you would still do it to
the best of your ability. You
would want to be good at it. It’s
where greatness begins in the material world.
Greatness, however, is also about the character of a
man. It is about his intentions,
and his efforts; efforts to love, the unlovely as well as those who are more
easily embraced. It is about doing
unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is about compassion, and forgiveness. It is about acceptance of others. Greatness is unattainable to those
whose only concerns are for themselves, and their own interests. They are flawed people, no matter how
much accomplishment and notoriety they may have attained, or how much money
they might have accumulated.
