In your opinion/experience, what defines success? –@texandcoda
When I first made a lot of money I thought: “This is it! I succeeded in New York. I’m on top of the world.”
Less than three years later I was dead broke and lost my house. I was worse than dead broke. I was probably over a million in debt. And I had no friends. I lost them all.
Then I did it again. And again, and again. And each time I let it give birth to an uglier and uglier failure.
So I had to redefine it for myself. What does success mean to me now? Simply an ability to pursue the Daily Practice I outline http://bit.ly/fuiRS9). I don’t want houses, or boats, or big vacations. I want freedom http://bit.ly/jxlS1s. Freedom to pursue my passions, to spend time with my daughters and wife, to get in shape, to stay emotionally healthy (which means 100% surrounding myself with uplifting people), to be mentally healthy (the ability and time to write), and spiritually healthy (the ability to read and have time and reduce my desire for all the toys that success in America usually implies).
I want to die when I’m an old man knowing I was successful at these four items. I want freedom to know I have enough, to be able to be fully present and enjoy each moment without worries.
That is success. You never fully get there, it is a process. We’re in a world where eventually everything deteriorates and dies. But, at the same time, I hope I get closer to success every day.