How do you measure whether you are successful or not?

ByHanna Shiferaw

The measurement for success varies from person to person. Because of the reason that different people give different definitions for success, their measure also varies depending on the thought they have towards it.  For most the measurement for success is money. Money is always mentioned in relation to measuring professional, business, company, career, etc success.
However, is that really the case?
                             
In his book, My life and work, Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company and one of the most successful men in history said the following;

Money is only a tool in business. It is just a part of the machinery. Page 71

Many people put the place of money as the master of their life. They measure their successes and failures according to the number they make. If they make good money, they may think they are successful. If they don’t, they feel they lost.  However, as Henry Ford puts it Money is only a tool. More explained, it is just part of the machinery.

So what defines and measures success?

Dr. John C. Maxwell one of prominent Leadership experts defines success as:
Success is…. Knowing your purpose in life, Growing to reach your maximum potential, and Sowing seeds that benefit others. Attitude 101, page 87

If you think you get power by accumulating money, and do less on developing your personal character, building positive influence on others and share whatever you have with people, you are as Henry Ford puts it a fool.

There are two fools in this world. One is the millionaire, who thinks that by hoarding money he can somehow accumulate real power, and the other is the penniless reformer who thinks that if only he can take the money from one class and give it to another, all the world's ills will be cured. Page 121

Money is not the only thing you need in life. There are zillion things that you can’t buy with your money. Simple example, your money can’t buy you people who really love you or be loyal for you in your bad days. Well, you may buy people who may pretend as if they care for you as long as you have your money around. Literally, these people love your money. Not you at all.  

Therefore, be careful when you measure your success. Success is not accumulating money. Money could be one indicator for success. For example, if you are running a business fairly, and people buy from you not because they don’t have another choice but they love your service or product, your profit may indicate that you are doing things good. This is good. You may think you are on the road to success.

However the measure for your success is your initial goal. What was the first goal you want to achieve when you begin? Measure your success from that point. How does that benefit others? How are you contributing to the people around you? How are you affecting people positively? Measure your success in accordance with that. 

If you define or measure success in terms of money, well, what good is that you have all the money in the world and don’t have real people around you in your good and sad times? Or what good is that you do less or none to the benefit of others and grow self centered? The more you become self centered, the more you run away from satisfaction and fulfillment, and of course success.