Success or Significance?

byrwagener

1.5K followers

Updated 10 years ago

Was just thinking about what success is and how much effort and energy we use chasing success? I have heard a few people over the years talk about success or significance. Here are a few brief thoughts, especially related to working here with WA.

Success is dependent on achieving a goal that has been set. We all want success and it is great as we achieve various things we desire. We appreciate that success can be in many areas of our lives, not just money.

Significance is more about the impact we make around us and how we are viewed from the outside or even how history will view us. Perhaps its our legacy.

In the context of my involvement with WA, I want to have success. I want to make referrals. I want to build substantial commissions. I want to use this as a means to becoming more financially free. I want to learn and grow as a person. All these measurements would mean I have been 'successful'.

But have I been significant?

Significance takes in the bigger picture. For example, what if I am chasing money at the cost of precious relationships? I am scamming or using unethical behaviour to achieve my goals? Significance however gives us a bigger purpose to which our success can be measured.

Perhaps we want to be financially free so we can help our kids through school and provide them great opportunities and an awesome upbringing - that is significant. Maybe we want to invest time in WA helping others while we also learn - that is beyond just ourselves and is significant. We can have the opportunity to help various charitable or mission causes because we have been successful here. We can help friends and family in need.

I want my life to be significant - have a genuine purpose for being here and something good to leave behind. Aligned successes on the way help achieve genuine long-term significance.