#davesdailychallenge (94): The Subjective Nature of Success. On the 13th Daily Challenge I wrote I discussed the “3-circle exercise” created by Jim Collins. Growing on that concept, and along with some recent thoughts of my own and words from @garyvee in his work, I wanted to talk about success. It can be an illusive concept. Our society generally defines success by your title, your bank account, your power, etc…Those points can be debated endlessly and honestly, there is no one right answer. We attach hero worship to those that are incredibly powerful and wealthy but we generally fail to appreciate the unreal sacrifices they have made in their lives. Many people earning the most money eschew other facets that others would say are the most important elements of success. It all depends on the individual and how they define success for their own life. There is a misunderstanding concerning the ease of “having it all”. By “all” I refer to financial success (money), personal success (happy/healthy/fulfilled self), and familial success (happy/healthy/fulfilled partner and children if that is what you want). These are, of course, just a few facets of “success” but they are three of the most discussed and generally have major impacts on our lives. The way I have come to view it, and this could very well change as I grow and learn more throughout life, these facets of success are on a sliding scale for most people, not all, but most. The reason I wouldn’t say all is because everyone values these facets differently. So, let’s unpack this, keeping in mind there are always exceptions. If you are focused on growing your financial wealth and increasing your net worth as much as possible you are going to have to put in the hours. You will be waking up early and staying up late. Yes, you can take breaks and work out. Yes, you can be ultra-disciplined and prepare clean food for your meals. Yes, you can stop working and be with your family. Every moment you step away from growing your worth will, however, take away from that financial measure of success. I promise you, however, that if you don’t protect your personal/family time then no one will. The good news is that happiness, often forgotten in discussions of success, or mentioned with an eye roll, CAN be a part of enviable financial success and a healthy family. The important take-away here is to know what will make you happiest. If piles of cash and winning every business deal brings you happiness then own it! Make that money! If the eyes of your children fill your life with light then don’t you dare sacrifice that love for the almighty dollar. This is, of course, at the heart of the struggle for many people I know. May we all have the courage to know what success means to us and go after it with courage. Good luck my friends.