What is Success?

Posted by Jane Langof on 28 August 2009 | 2 Comments

I was very sad for a friend and business mentor who recently lost her son in a tragic accident.  Her courage and strength has been truly amazing and she shares an inspiring quote in memory of her son.

"What is success? To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.  This is to have succeeded." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote because it sums up success as being so much more than the accumulation of material things.  Success to me is about being happy and helping others.  The simple act of caring for a child or showing kindness to people (including yourself!) is something that we can all manage.

What does success mean to you?

Jane Langof is a Feng Shui Consultant and Interior Designer based in Sydney, Australia