What Is a Successful Person?

To The Editor:
We hear it all the time, he’s a successful person, she’s a successful person. But what do we mean by that?
More importantly, how is success defined? By perception, reality; by one’s financial situation?
Assuming it’s the latter, then if a person has a net worth of let’s say $1 million then they would be considered successful, right?
Conversely, if they have a net worth of $990,000, then by that definition would they be considered unsuccessful, or maybe just less successful? Doesn’t seem right.
Many people consider themselves successful because they have “arrived” at a certain place literally and figuratively in their lives. We all know many people like this. Not to disappoint anyone, but…your destination does not determine success, your journey however, does. You know, your sometimes difficult, albeit continual decision-making process along life’s path with a well-defined plan that helps you achieve your goals. Also, having contingency plans for the “what if.”
By the way, most people who fail had no plan or a bad plan.
Maybe a successful person is someone who has multiple acronyms after their name indicating higher levels of education. Certainly, the word success could apply to this person. But suppose a person was a cab driver with a Master’s Degree? Yes, people like that do exist. Would that person be considered unsuccessful because his or her potential for what they went to school for wasn’t realized?
Or maybe, that person would be considered a successful cab driver with a higher level of education than needed for his or her current occupation who chooses to drive a cab instead of reaching their full educational potential.
Point is, it’s very hard to define, yet we constantly hear it spoken.
Maybe a successful person is someone who can help people accomplishes their goals, along with their own goals.
Consider this, if you strip out all the good things life has to offer, you know, sunlight and the environment, beaches and mountains, music and culture, relationships, good food and a warm house in the winter and a cool home in summer, and break down life to its bare essentials, you will find it is truly all about crisis management. You wake up in the morning and may face a myriad of challenges such as a flat tire, roof leak, or something more serious, a medical emergency.
I find those who have the most knowledge are able to deal with these issues easier than those without knowledge. Knowledge is, after all, “Keys to the Kingdom.” So, it would seem, you should acquire as much knowledge as possible about a myriad of topics and hence you will become a good crisis manager and your life will be easier. That, to me, is a successful person.
How do you define a successful person? E-mail me at www.ronsoldano.com or call me at 609-368-4615 to tell me.
RON SOLDANO
Stone Harbor