What Does It Truly Cost to Be Successful?
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
As I sit here in my house a couple of blocks away from my college campus and write this post, I constantly ponder the significance of the title and what it means to me in my life.
What does it truly cost to be successful?
This question is constantly replayed in my mind as I tackle my daily goals.
Before I answer this question allow me to briefly describe my life.
I’m a college student pursuing a degree in Biology in hopes to be accepted into medical school. My week consists of me commuting to school which is approximately a two minute bike ride from my house which I currently rent with some close high school buddies.
Morning Commute to School
The entire experience of living in a small college town while being surrounded with young, like-minded individuals 24/7 pursuing an education is unparalleled.
The college experience is admirable because it’s a period in life when you truly have no serious constraints such as a mortgage, children (in most cases) or a legitimate occupation. Your only real obligation is to attend your classes and perform well.
The past three years of college have arguably been the best three years of my life. It is now crystal clear to me why college alumni champion college as their “golden years.”
And while college seems like four long year party, we still have a purpose that we must not forget—and that’s to receive our education ultimately to develop the skills in becoming self-sufficient in life.
Day after day out I commute to my classes, and sit in large lecture halls crammed with 100-200+ students. I listen to my professors lecture on subjects ranging from ecology to botany, to the psychology of human beings.
As I sit amongst the multitude of ambitious students eagerly grasping every word the professor utters, I survey the crowd and reflect on my individual life. As I reflect on life there are two questions constantly firing at the back of my mind.
What makes me different than all these students? How can I stand out against the multitude?
I repeatedly find myself examining my life and the lives of my family and peers in search of that one aspect that will distinguish me from the multitude.
Success is certainly the ultimate goal we as humans strive to achieve in our lives. The whole concept of success is measured differently from each individual. An individual’s measuring block of success may be completely contrasting to another person.
(For more on the measure of success check out this link)
But generally speaking, success to most is graduating from college and landing a respectable occupation that will better your life. I certainly believe in this concept and for me to achieve this success means that I must obtain my Bachelor of Science in Biology and get into medical school.
But something just isn’t right…
As I continue to survey the lecture hall filled with 200+ students, the only thing that is going through my mind is…
How am I different from all these people? What sets me apart from the crowd?
Everyone goes to college, gets an education, receives their diploma—and then works until retirement.
According to the populace, that is achieving success.
To me–not so much.
The life we as human beings are blessed with has so much more to offer!
SO MUCH MORE (I can’t stress this enough).
And to basically limit ourselves from our greatest potential in what we can achieve in life is an insult to our creator (which is GOD for me).
(Feel free to insert whatever religion you’re a part of above) (I don’t intend to offend anyone) Lol.
What I’m saying is rather than conforming to the norms of society, why not challenge yourself to achieve something greater?
If you believe that you’re capable of doing something more with your life and achieving more than just a “diploma” and “J.O.B.” why not pursue it?
Why not make a difference in your life and the lives of others?
Be an individualist. Be innovative. Be inspirational.
Instead of being content with your college degree and safe job, why not create jobs for others?
Why not challenge yourself to accomplish things the multitude are unable to accomplish?
These are just some of the questions I ask to motivate and empower you as well as myself.
Success to me is measured by how many lives I can make a positive difference in. Impacting lives in a positive way is changing the world one person at a time.
Realizing success is like building a brick wall. It may seem like a daunting task to deliver, but if you simply lay one brick at a time diligently–then you will eventually complete your wall.
Life is to precious and beautiful to waste by conforming to social norms.
This world has so much to offer and my challenge to you is to go out and achieve your goals and aspirations no matter how impossible or unattainable they may appear to be.
Ever wonder why the social elite seem to be living the dream life and experiencing things that “normal” people would otherwise regard as impossible to experience?
It’s because prior to them reaching their fame and success they manifested in their minds that they wanted to live out their dreams. Whether if it was being an world class athlete, beloved musician, or even the president of a nation!
Its pretty simply actually.
See the majority of people have programmed their minds to believe that it is impossible to tap into your fullest potential and achieve anything you truly desire in life.
That is the distinguishing factor between the elite and someone who has placed limitations in their lives.
Will Smith is highly regarded as one of America’s greatest actors of all-time. These are his secrets to success. This truly is motivational. Enjoy
I’ve laid out what it costs for ME to be successful and that is go against the crowd, to stand out and inspire others by sharing my personal story and journey to become a greatest entrepreneur ever! Why not?
Now the only question remaining…
What does it cost to be successful in your life?