What Is Success?
Behind the Numbers, Episode 1
Behind the Numbers is my attempt to tell the truth behind the numbers. I’ll describe the concepts, attitudes and mindsets that shape our lives when it comes to money. We’ll define words, and talk about what people actually mean when they say them, especially around finances. It’s a candid look into my mind that I hope answers questions most people never ask.
What Does Success Look Like to You?
When are you successful? How do you know when you’ve crossed that line? What does it feel like?
If you had to define success, what words would you use?
Merriam-Webster gives two answers. The first is a favorable or desired outcome. The second is the attainment of wealth and fame. In plain words: getting rich or getting famous.
Which Definition Are We Talking About?
“That man is super successful, but his wife left him.”
Okay. In my mind, that is not a favorable or desired outcome. So definition #1 is out. And if you have to describe the man to me, he probably isn’t famous. Nix that too. So he must have a net worth that’s considered wealthy.
What number is that? Well, maybe he’s a millionaire. That means his personal balance sheet shows a net worth of at least $1 million but less than $2 million. Cross $2 million and he’s a multimillionaire. Cross $10 million and he’s a deca-millionaire.
Is he successful? I have no idea.
How Wealth Became “Success”
Definition #2 seems dumb to me, because we already have a perfectly fine word for someone who gains wealth: wealthy.
It seems to me the only reason #2 became a definition of success is that people gained wealth and didn’t feel successful. It wasn’t as favorable an outcome as they’d hoped. So they lied to themselves, let others believe the lie, and now success has a second definition.
How much wealth? More than someone else. Probably more than whoever is using the word.
The Deceitfulness of Wealth
This vagueness causes a lot of anxiety. The two meanings merge, and we start to believe that if we become successful by definition #2, we’ll reach definition #1. In other words, if we become wealthy, we’ll have the outcome we wanted.
That belief is so pervasive that even when wealthy people admit they’re miserable, we just scroll to the next clip of someone who looks wealthy and happy to reinforce the belief.
I have a lot of thoughts about this, but I believe this is what the Bible calls “the deceitfulness of wealth”: pursuing wealth for something money can never provide.
There is no amount of money I would trade for my wife. I believe most people would say the same. But stories abound of wealthy people with wrecked marriages.
Know Your Own Numbers
I think we need to speak the truth and stop being ignorant about money. The truth sets you free.
The Bible has many warnings about money and wealth. It also says that God gives us the ability to produce wealth.
A lot of people bash “rich people” when the reason they aren’t richer themselves is that they refuse to track and manage the money they do have. They can tell you what someone else is “worth,” but they have no idea what their own net worth is. Be cautious of those people.
Zig Ziglar said it best: “Anybody who says they don’t want to make a lot of money will lie about other things, too!”
Success Is a Journey
Hopefully these posts give you perspective. In the weeks to come, we’re going to dive deep into a lot of topics. We’ll shine a light on some vague subjects and make money less taboo. We’ll talk about principles, and I’ll share our own stories where they apply.
Sometimes people call me successful. I might smile and say thanks, but in my head I know they just told me a lot more about themselves than they did about me.
Success is a journey. Money is part of that journey. You will never feel successful by comparing yourself to other people, but you will feel successful serving other people.
We were each given gifts and talents for the benefit of others. A businessman and a stay-at-home mom have different paths, but both can be successful. Some people may never acquire much wealth. Some will acquire a lot of it, to their detriment
The greatest among you will be your servant. People matter. The ultimate affirmation of success won’t be going viral or making the Forbes 400. It will come when we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
What does success mean to you? Has your definition changed over the years? Tell us in the comments.