How Do Genuinely Successful People Define “Success”?

And how most people have it upside down.

Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash.

You probably have heard many times this: “Money does not bring happiness.” It has been stated by many people — wise people and the ones trying to pretend smart.

However, these days we most commonly attribute the title “successful” to someone rich. Someone who has built a big business or earned many awards and titles in sports, acting, music, etc. Or has many followers on social media.

The first characteristic of someone successful comes in most people’s minds: “being rich.”

How are we as a society so contradictory, and what actually is success?

I wrote this essay based on quotes about success from famous, impactful, and, yes, rich people.

I found out that none of these definitions include “money” or “being rich,” but quite the opposite.

It seems like highly successful people have understood that money, riches, and fame are just a by-product of service to people, living lives of meaning and becoming the best version of themselves.

Could it be that people who equate “success” with “riches” are the ones who have not yet become successful and wealthy?

What Is Success?