When the movie Fame came out last year, I took my family to see it at the movie theater. I was a big fan of the TV show back in the 80s. We even requested that the theme song be played at our wedding reception (my husband is a big fan of 80s music). I was looking forward to being entertained by first-class music, singing, and dancing.
I did enjoy the high-quality singing and dancing. However, it was a monologue at the end of the movie that really spoke to me. It started by defining what success is not. It’s not fame or money or power (however, when you do a photo search on the term “success” you get images of business men in gray suits with titles like “powerful businessman”).
Rather…
Success is waking up in the morning, so excited about what you have to do to literally fly out the door.
It’s getting to work with people you love.
Success is connecting with the world and making people feel.
It’s finding a way to bind together people who have nothing in common but a dream.
It’s falling asleep at night knowing you did the best job you could.
Success is joy and freedom and friendship. And success is love.
Most people look at me and equate my career to success: I have climbed the corporate ladder in a short amount of time and “boast” an impressive title. However, when I stepped out of that theater, I turned to my husband and said: “I’m not successful.” He replied, “I was thinking the exact opposite.” He is a college professor and loves every minute of it.
Success is not fame, money, and power. Success is loving life, making a difference, and having fun doing it.
What is your definition of success?
I think about this sort of thing quite often. I can safely say that my feelings of success (or happiness) seem inversely related to hours spent at work or dollars earned in the paycheck.
I guess you have to ask yourself–success at what? Maybe it’s ok to just be.