To succeed as a man is more difficult.” This is perhaps why, in my opinion, personal success is the most important of successes. Humans grow up being told that in order to be successful, one must get married, have an important job, have a six digits salary, have two or three kids, own a big house, and even have a beautiful car - the apparent epitome of this seven digit word. However, this is not the case for everyone. To the poor heroin user in Mexico, success might mean stealing enough money to buy his next dose, while for the Colombian soldier, success might mean avoiding getting shot by the enemy forces to see his daughter’s smile once more. The definition of personal success isn’t a universal law. Precisely, this is the reason why it has the word personal in it. Personal success goes beyond getting what you want; it has a much deeper symbolical meaning. It means achieving one’s deepest desires, consequently, ultimate happiness. The American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once gave a beautiful insight on personal success: To laugh often and much, To win 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. Emerson invites the reader to, as cliché as it sounds, enjoy the simple things in life, rather than living one that revolves around being better than others or indulging in materialistic things. Moreover, he argues that in order achieve personal success, one must help others, thus, reaching the conclusion that striving for personal success goes along with becoming a better human. Ashly Lorenzana once said, “If you are going to do something, strive to do it better than anyone else. Do it all the way. If you are going to half-ass it, why bother?” Much of the principles on which professional success are based upon are displayed on this quote. These
To succeed as a man is more difficult.” This is perhaps why, in my opinion, personal success is the most important of successes. Humans grow up being told that in order to be successful, one must get married, have an important job, have a six digits salary, have two or three kids, own a big house, and even have a beautiful car - the apparent epitome of this seven digit word. However, this is not the case for everyone. To the poor heroin user in Mexico, success might mean stealing enough money to buy his next dose, while for the Colombian soldier, success might mean avoiding getting shot by the enemy forces to see his daughter’s smile once more. The definition of personal success isn’t a universal law. Precisely, this is the reason why it has the word personal in it. Personal success goes beyond getting what you want; it has a much deeper symbolical meaning. It means achieving one’s deepest desires, consequently, ultimate happiness. The American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once gave a beautiful insight on personal success: To laugh often and much, To win 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. Emerson invites the reader to, as cliché as it sounds, enjoy the simple things in life, rather than living one that revolves around being better than others or indulging in materialistic things. Moreover, he argues that in order achieve personal success, one must help others, thus, reaching the conclusion that striving for personal success goes along with becoming a better human. Ashly Lorenzana once said, “If you are going to do something, strive to do it better than anyone else. Do it all the way. If you are going to half-ass it, why bother?” Much of the principles on which professional success are based upon are displayed on this quote. These