Don’t believe the lies of success

This post is an example of the content I share every Friday in my Living by Experience Magazine. If you’d like your free copy, just click here.

Every day I see some ad on social media talking about books, seminars and workshops promising to make us more successful. Many of these have some great advice that is worthy of our attention. I read much of the self-help success material, and attend my share of conferences and workshops to learn something new. I’ve even created some myself to share what I’ve learned. But as you explore the self-help literature and workshops out there – consider these words of Albert Einstein:

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”

In our attempt to become “successful” (whatever that means), we have learned all the exterior characteristics of a successful person. We have studied and learned those appearances well enough to fool a many people into believing we are what we are selling. Eventually, we might even get to believe it ourselves. We know how to dress like a successful person, we learn how to talk like success, and even walk like success. We have focused our eyes on the goal of being a success so much that we have forgotten the inside, you could say the heart of success: which is first and foremost to become a person of value.

Albert Einstein was a student his entire life. He was a teacher of math and physics, and worked diligently writing papers that astounded scientists and physics teachers alike. In his spare time he produced papers for the patent office he worked at.. In 1909 (at age 30) he became Professor Extraordinary at Zurich, in 1911 Professor of Theoretical Physics at Prague. A Nobel Prize winner, Einstein stayed busy writing theories and papers receiving doctorates from practically every university he was associated with.

Einstein understood more than physics. He understood the worth of a man. He was focused on his work and gave no thought to the idea of becoming a “successful” person. Instead, he wanted to improve his value. Eventually, success comes as a side-effect of hard work. It is the work ethic of a person that counts; their desire to grow and be more valuable is what makes things happen.

So here’s my two cents: As you go out to build your empire, don’t strive for success as so many success gurus tell you to do. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered on my journey from dead-end career to fulfilling life, it’s this: There are no short cuts in life. You must become a person of true value, and then success might just follow. I’d invite you to read more in my book about Happiness in the work you do. Amazon has lots of them in stock, as well as many other book sellers worldwide and online.

P.S. Questions, comments, compliments? Text me: 604-210-8668. I’d love to hear from you.

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