Since I rarely go out to socialize, I really dig and stalk social media to keep me posted on what's going on outside and what's trending. As I was half-heartedly surfing earlier, I saw someone shared a link of Arianna Huffington speaking at a graduation. I, being a sucker for such speeches took my headset and watched the video.
In her still somewhat heavy Greek accent she made me understand some simple things that can have a great impact in one's life - like being able to find one's calling, pursuing one's passion or simply letting go of things that makes life stressful all of which are definitely life changing.
I think it made sense when she said that, "you can complete a project by dropping it." Admit it, at some point, we all obsessed in doing or wanting to do everything ourselves. We refuse to delegate whether by arrogance or not wanting to share the credit with someone else. We spend time and resources trying to acquire or learn a new skill for a project. While this is a good trait and not entirely bad, when we are working on a project that might cause us our jobs or our business, we might want to think twice. If you can't do it, drop it or find someone who can and pay them good.
She spoke of a third element to add to money and power as metrics of success giving emphasis on the reality that yes, we have achieved an impressive collective lot in the various aspects of our careers, business and profession but success as we know and expect it is something that's not sustainable. This is a basic truth that requires no further amount of research. As children from the moment we began our school age until we reach retirement, there is one single expectation: to excel.
Wanting to excel and eventually succeed is not evil. However, the means we use to attain them, that's one that needs some major rethinking. At school parents expect their kids to excel academically, or in their extracurricular activities sometimes driving them just above the healthy competitive line. When we work, we often disregard our teammates or drive subordinates beyond the point of tolerance to produce the numbers to be on top. We disregard our family and friends - whom we consider the most important to us and finally we tend to disregard ourselves - our health and if we are fulfilling the desires of our heart. Our careers wont always be in the place where our heart is but in order to be at peace with ourselves, we have to find it in our hearts that we truly love whatever it is that we are doing and that it makes a difference to someone else.
Success as we know it has always been associated with grand offices and big fat paychecks. We buy the definition that's been handed out to us and we live our lives trying to fit in the mold. Today, we have more connections and more freedom, different media and platforms to choose from to deliver our message and express ourselves. Now, more than any other time before is the right moment to challenge ans express one's creativity and redefine success.
We live in a world where everyone might not have an equal opportunity but we are given the best power of them all: the freedom to express and show and make the difference. Let us be Smithies you and me and take on the challenge Arianna made. Let us shape and redefine success in a way that we'll be able to keep our sanity and remain calm and relaxed to take on new challenges ahead.
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