OT: How do you define success?

Today has been a fabulous day. Too fabulous for words. I can't wait to blog about it on my peronal site today, after i get it set up.

I've been working on this whole "self-improvement" thing, and it's been giving me a great sense of accomplishment lately. With few exceptions, most parts of my life are no longer stagnating as they once were. I started reading this book tonight that my Dad gave me. It's called "Your Roadmap For Success: You CAN Get There from Here" by John C. Maxwell. Great book, and a fairly quick read. The first chapter has probably the most profound piece of information I have yet come across, and I thought I would share it with you.

Success is waking up in the morning, whoever you are, wherever you are, however old or young, and bounding out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you're good at -- something that's bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again today.
And that's exactly how I feel every single morning, especially about programming. Hope that made you think, and I hope you have a better day for having read it.

8 Comments

  • Nice post, for me there was nothing I was interested in until I started programming and therefore no reason to bound out of bed.





    Now the only thing stopping me jumping out of bed is the fact that Im up all night programming ;)

  • I'm constantly amazed at how differently people define career success. Lately this has become very important personally too.





    Two years ago I was well-paid, secure AND working on various web and windows apps. In other words in heaven.





    Today I am well-paid, secure and toiling away writing ABAP code for a newly implemented SAP system. In other words, unhappy and frustrated.





    Many around me know this. Their reaction? Stick with the well-paid and secure job. Hell, a few mention that ABAP programmers make a ton of money.





    My feelings? Unless something happens (and it may soon) with my current employer, I'm easily able and greatly willing to take a 30% cut in pay and/or do a startup of some sort. You see, my definition of success is exactly that of John Maxwell.





    Thanks for the post!

  • Dave,


    Having done a stint in PeopleSoft work (3 jobs, actually - I moved a lot looking for happiness) I can definitely related to what you are talking about. Pay and security are only useful if you can keep getting out of bed and go to work, which becomes really hard when you spend all you time working on that data interface that is just a little bit different than the one you built the day before, or changing that column heading on that report because the accountant uses a different term...





    Actually, it amazes me that people pay so much for ERP "programmers".

  • For quite a while now my email signature has had:



    Success is when you look forward to going to work AND you look forward to going home.



    I think that just about sums it up. I am WAY successful by that definition.

  • Success definititon is the first step to achieving it.

  • Success is what gets everybody though the day . Life is success.

  • it is about fulfilling your potential and acheiveing your dream.

  • Success is an achievement and satifaction of doing your day today work with pleasure and complete dedication. Every day if you feel happiness growing within you and you see positive changes with in you, that is success. Success gives you a insight of your future , it is like a dessert after food.

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