What is success?
The 6M ProfitMethod – Business Success blog is focused on success albeit mainly business and financial success (I guess the title is a bit of a give away!) but I paused for thought today when reading one of DavidBDale’s 299 Word Novels.
SIDENOTE – I came across David’s work via MyBlogLog some while back and have become a great fan of his work. It is varied, thought provoking and always brilliantly executed. I look forward to each new novel posted at his blog and always get great enjoyment from them. You ought to know that each novel is EXACTLY 299 words – an amazing feat in itself!
You will be aware from Who is Wizzer that my favourite quote (attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson) is all about the definition of success BUT interestingly there is simply no reference to materialistic success!
So this morning as I read David’s latest short novel I was touched by his words which made me think what a successful human being the object of his story has been.
David kindly gave me permission to reprint his story here – please repay him by becoming a regular reader of his work – which I know you will also enjoy.
IMPRESS ONLY MESomething so good and pure at the core of a man like my husband hardens to a bullet in the forge of an inhuman world. He might laugh at me for saying so. He doesn’t need me to sing his praise. Those who don’t know him will never admit his humility. They don’t know how strife can temper a man, or that his failings can be strength. They’ve never heard him laugh or cry. (I know he wouldn’t want me saying this.) I’ve seen tears in his eyes at the mention of a baby in distress, but compassion propels him, even as he debriefs the other men with details of the sacrificed, past the whining flesh to the crowning beyond. That’s when his jokes are at their wicked best. That’s when they know he is their leader. Nobody is innocent, I hear him say, but action can purify. At night he has to impress only me. I contemplate the back of his head on the pillow. Nicks in his hair are all that remain of the violence of things that went wrong in the field, unless he’s dreaming of those troubles now. I breathe the endless night. This is the consummation of my life, to lie with his snoring champion’s body, and have it to myself. How many other women would trade with me! I lift the sheet and follow the line of his backbone as far as I dare and keep my motions small. I touch a place that makes me think of him, and gently a place on him that feels like a man, and remember times when we had no mission but one another and all the time in the world. I bite my lip to keep from crying out with the splendor of it all. Copyright © September 12, 2007 David Hodges |
No matter how hard we strive for business and thus financial success we must never lose sight of the real measure of success – how we are seen by others. Be wary, however, of a one simple word – “perception”. It is said that perception is reality. Online, for example, is it possible to establish who is truly successful and worthy of their often self-proclaimed guru status?
The reality may be very different from the face seen by the world – is that success?
Thank you David for this timely reminder
wow mark, this is deep!
jes
Having one of those serious moments I guess. I like to get people really thinking! Thanks for commenting. Mark
Wow – this is powerful! What a great way to start the morning. Success in business is one thing, but success in personal relationships is what really matters in the end – great reminder ~
It is all too easy to get caught up with the “financial success” thing and lose sight of what really matters. Personally, without business and financial success I’d feel something of a failure and I’m sure that would impact on everything else too. But I could live with that but not without the people who matter to me. Mark
“Not without the people who matter to me” is hitting the target dead center Mark. I feel it would be such a hollow victory if there were people that I cared about who got shoved aside in the process. Awesome post. Thanks to you and David for sharing this. I will visit his site soon.
Tracey
In my past business life I saw this all the time – arrogance & the “I’ll work 80 hour weeks for 10 years for success and then deal with my family” . Err, excuse me – kids grown up – wife / husband left. THAT IS NOT SUCCESS! It’s certainly not for me. Thanks for your thoughts Tray