He awoke. Leg gone but still with us. We give praise. Quiet at first, then with increased resound!
Reminds me of other life experiences that creates desires for thanksgiving. Birth. Marriage. Abundance. A job; a contract. Storms pass. Sweet revenge. Birds tweet. Insects move. Lions roar.
Plan, see, explore, renew…then Admire the benefits of widened expanse of experiences. Minds are relieved, energies boosted, and the pens of writers move in sprints across the page.
So what does Success really mean to those who try so hard to get it, yet it moves further and further away as they draw near. Trying the short route some play the lotto… anticipating overnight success. Some marry rich. Some scheme, connive, and conspire just to taste the mouthwatering trappings of success.
Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Beyoncé, Adele, Will, Denzel Washington, Taylor Swift, and the list goes on. Without a doubt few will argue that these individuals experienced success. Come to think of it, Michael Jackson even produced an album 5 years after his death! Now to many…that’s success! But… is it really?
Determined to find out Why Some Individuals Succeed While Others Don’t, I decided to research the topic of success. I conducted a phenomenological study, interviewed outstanding leaders in business, and other industries. I even wrote a book on Success, and published a peer reviewed article in the JAABC Business Journal about it.
So what does Success really mean to those who try so hard to get it, yet it moves further and further away as they draw near. Trying the short route some play the lotto… anticipating overnight success. Some marry rich. Some scheme, connive, and conspire just to taste the mouthwatering trappings of success.
Personally, I sought to educate myself not necessarily with the focus of being successful since I already was …as I defined it. I went to college earned several degrees including two Masters, and a Doctorate, combined with many years in International Business. Now some would admit that I am successful as society envisions it, but bearing the delectable scars of student loans, how many would agree? (Couldn’t resist that ..smile).
“Success is definitively defined as the attainment of wealth, honors and the like”
So I have pulled together definitions from 21 of Society’s Iconic leaders. Take a look. Reflect. Adopt one, or share your own definition. Remember it has always been said that only you can define what success really means to you.
John Wooden
Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
Michelle Obama
Success is not about how much money you make but about the difference you make in people’s lives.
Winston Churchill
Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.
Thomas Edison
Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.
Steven Covey
If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience you will find yourdefinition of success.
Colin Powell
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.
Nelson Mandela
Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do. Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
Albert Einstein
Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value
Woody Allen
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
Barack Obama
The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Maya Angelou
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
Martin Luther King Jr.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Mary Kay Ash
Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.
Alexander Graham Bell
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.
Ellen DeGeneres
I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put on this planet for a purpose, and we all have a different purpose. When you connect with that love and that compassion, that’s when everything unfolds.
Michael Dell
You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.
Oprah Winfrey
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
Abraham Lincoln Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
Napoleon Hill
Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
Mark Twain
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
Mother Teresa
To love others as God loves you, that is the measure of success.
So there you have it. 21 of Society’s Iconic leaders as they defined success. Look at them again… for a few times if necessary. Pause; reflect; adopt one; or share your own definition.
Remember, only YOU can define what success really means to you.
What’s your definition? Do share. We would love to hear.
Peace, quiet, calm, serenity. That’s what weekends, holidays, vacations are for. To reboot, unwind, and get back in the game.
As workaholics, we don’t often do it. We feel it’s a Luxury that we cannot afford. Still, we spend time wishing, hoping, even complaining at times. But we can do anything that we put our minds to. And …relaxing is one of the most important things to do.
So plan a getaway! Or a Staycation! It will work wonders for your mind, your work, your business, career, and your life.
Nightmares of the past creep into the face of the future. Stares so deep triggers haunting thoughts of shame, disgust, turmoil, and fear.
Tis only with strength that the force awakens the face from sleep. A sleep that sparkles promises of a future composed of beauty’s quiescence. A face filled with smiles, calm, and joy. A face of Peace.
Smile my face smile. Nightmare’s gone. Softly and tenderly the future calls.
To lead, to Wade…Darkness. Life’s unexpected changes often knock us off our feet. Business fail. Sudden job loss, relationship spiral, sickness, accidents, natural disasters, tragic losses. These changes knock us off our feet causing darkness in our souls, our lives, our all. We look around and all we see is gloom and doom.
Questions abound often going unanswered. Why? Why didn’t we listen? Why weren’t we forewarned? …Then how. How could this happen? How could we have not seen, or heard? How can they not care?
Enter the example of the ‘sudden’ departure of Basketball’s Icon Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat . The why’s, the how’s, and the blames reign. Answers provide little comfort as he walks behind the heels of those gone before.
That’s how it is with change. It throws us off balance and causes alarm, cries, and sighs. We want things back the way they were!
But often there are warning signs.
So today activate your senses. Keep your eyes wide open…see. Keep your ears attuned. Look around. Listen. Often the signs are very evident if only we are in tune.
Stay healthy. Stay alert. Stay focused. As darkness draws nigh, we always see the sun setting.
The vibes; the rythms; the mystic music enthuse our frame of mind and instigate thoughts that Quiets our souls in distant love. Island… creates the feeling of contentment that all is well. No matter how busy life gets, an island waits in the distance to soothe our longings.
Why not plan a getaway to any of the caribbean islands – Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas, Cayman, and more. Listen…can you not hear it? They are a Calling with promises of lazy days basking in the sun, sea and sand.
Business, career, family, life and the facets that engulf our daily experiences. Clouds like scales cover our eyes that we fail to see the Vision of a future so dear. A future that’s past reminiscing what has been…, blocks the possibilities of what can be.
Open wide our eyes. See the possibilities. Reach higher. Believe. We will Achieve.
Water…a necessity for life. For living. We can’t do without it.
Surprisingly, I came across a site that captures only raindrops. It caught my attention as I love the different forms water comes in. It may be the river, the sea, the tap, waterfall, canal, stream; it may even appear through bursts of lightening and thunder!
Water though essential to living can also be extremely dangerous. It gives life and it can take it. Should we be afraid? No, not at all. As with many things in life it’s our approach that counts. Either we care for it, plan for it, or neglect it as in hurricane warnings and suffer the consequences.
Today, may we bask in the comfort and delights of magical streams. Let’s dream. Let’s quiet our hearts with distant love.
Lazy days. Basking in the sun, the sea, and the sand. Trailed by long quiet starry nights. When you think of summer, what do you think of? Strange question but sometimes some things come so naturally that we don’t give it much thought. But curiosity sparked I searched google for definitions. Here’s what I found which may be useful for Floridians and Caribbean Globe trotters who celebrate summer all year round.
Summer is the warmest season of the year and runs from June to August in the northern Hemisphere …(duh).
Summer is a time to embrace personal delights. Essentially do special things that inspire relaxation and enjoyment. This may include things like getting better at something. Taking on a passion (learn a new language, sport, pastime). Or simply just being. Kids look forward to tons of fun! Not to mention changing schools …to them a sign of growing up (smile). High school Grads activate college acceptance, and make preps for their new campus living (much to the despair of new empty nesters).
But let’s face it, Summer is a time to chill. Here are some fun stuff that you can do this summer (extracted from real simple).
ENJOY NOSTALGIA
See a movie at the drive in
Blow bubbles
Walk on the boardwalk
Play tag or a childhood game
Win a prize at the fair
Build a sandcastle at the beach
EAT and DRINK
Eat a whole lobster with your hands
Roast marshmallows over fire and make s’mores
Make lemonade from scratch
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Pick wildflowers
Swim in a lake
Rent a bike
Go fishing
Go camping
Go for a hike
Go kayaking or canoeing
JUST BECAUSE
Collect seashells at the beach
Take a last-minute road trip
See a summer blockbuster
Walk barefoot in the grass
Get caught in a summer rainstorm
Sleep with the windows open
So go ahead! Explore! Have a popsicle and Make some new Memories this summer!
I Met Gee for the first time through my uncle and aunt in the big city. We immediately clicked. Did many things together until I decided to return to my hometown.
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At a new job in my hometown I met a young lady. Very warm, friendly, and approachable. Immediately we clicked. We chatted on and off at intervals over time.
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Years later I had my second child and decided to take her to pre-school at the age of two. As she grew she stayed in the same school. Time passed; kids play; and a friendship developed among three little girls. Immediately they clicked.
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At a school event parents were invited. It was only then that my little girl and I realized that the kids belonged to the mother I had met at the job in my hometown. Time passed. Later I found out that the girls’ mom was married to the son of my friend Gee…who I met through my aunt and uncle years earlier.
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Eventually I discovered that Gee’s daughters were friends with my older daughter. They had met while on campus studying. Not surprising, they became great friends.
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Can one truly fathom these series of coincidences woven interconnectedly across the seas in various places? Oh the ties that bind our hearts together in distant love. No longer are we just friends, but consider ourselves family. Oh the ties that bind.