360 Degrees: Success

Who is the judge of success? Is it one's family, friends, or community? Or is it one's employer, educator, or leader? Success means something different to every single person on this earth. No one has all of the same standards, priorities, and benchmarks. What may be the highlight of one person's entire life, could be considered a failure in somebody else's. Why?

Take two children. One grew up in a wealthy neighborhood in the suburbs, and was given all the tools he needed to do well in life. The other, however, was not so lucky. He grew up in a slum in the city, with one parent, and barely enough money to pay the bills. Ten years later, the two boys are sitting next to each other in a community college classroom. The privileged child is looked upon by his friends, family, and society as a failure. He had so much going for him, but squandered it away, ending up here. But for the other child, the fact that he even made it to college-any college- is a miracle in its own rite. Yes, they ended up in the same place, but who was more successful? Your background plays a major role in your view of success.

The United States GDP in 2010 was 14,624,184 million US Dollars. A country like Congo's was 12,600 million US dollars. For the Congo, bringing in, say, 20,000 million dollars in a year would constitute a monumental success. If the United States did that, we would collapse and cease to be a country. This discrepancy in the meaning of success does not only lie between individuals, but entire entities, including nations, and corporations, where the same simulation above could be applied. Your starting point also plays a major role in your view of success.

The previous two examples have both been the results of inequality. What if, like the first situation, there were two boys. But this time, they were neighbors. Same living conditions, same economic situation, and same intellect. Upon graduating, both students receive the same 3.5 grade point average. To one, this is spectacular. He couldn't be happier with that solid B. But the other leaves the ceremony with incredible disappointment, disdain, and frustration. Since all external factors were the same, this inconsistency is a result of mindset. One boy held them self to much higher standards than the other, and was thus upset when he didn't reach them. That being said, should people hold themselves to higher standards? It is a matter of opinion, but I believe the answer is yes. Even if your goals are not reached, the motivation you receive striving for them is worth the possibility of disappointment in the end.

To conclude, success is subjective. Everyone views it differently, and that can be a result of one's own background, starting point, or motivation levels, among many other factors. But in the end, you, and only you, are the judge of your own success.