Success: What executives want out of life is changing.
Which of these definitions of success resonates most with you?
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Author Maya Angelo
“Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.” Deepak Chopra
“The more you’re actively and practically engaged, the more successful you will feel.” Richard Branson
“Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.” Inventor Thomas Edison
Well, in a survey on success based on 160 senior executives, 8 distinct categories emerged. Acquiring wealth was the 2nd most popular indicator of success.
- Family
- Wealth
- Work/ Career
- Recognition/ Fame
- Power
- Winning/ Overcoming challenges
- Friendships
- Meaning
But in another survey of the 2,011 people aged 18+, 90% believed that success is more about happiness than power, possessions, or prestige.
In total, 67% associated success with achieving personal goals; 66% defined success as having “…good relationships with friends and family…”; and 60% said, “It’s about loving what you do for a living.”
Only 1 in 5 respondents cited monetary wealth.