As I wrote last time, for me, success is all about being able to achieve a delicate balance between:
- short and long term income;
- personal time;
- time for those you love;
- the sustainability of your business activity;
- your contribution to life.
In the first part of this article explored the first 3 and on this part I will wrap up the last two and a conclusion.
The Sustainability of your business activity
In our modern times we have grown and exploited without much car about the world. There was little consideration about the impact that open mining would have, that fracking has, that polluting rivers and water, etc… But even the definition of sustainable has been something that has been hard to pin down.
Sustainable, in my view, is about being able to do a few things: clearly be beneficial to life as a whole, so avoid destroying nature; but also it is about having a macro focus that will not just be spent in the very short term; and finally it is about building the structures to allow the business to last. This can be in the form of resources, people, business model, everything.
This week I watched a really inspiring video, if you have a chance watch this trailer and look out for the full movie.
Your contribution to life
This is the last but arguably the most important aspect. The business you chose to do, your vocation, your passion, can have a lot of facets. I am a member of the team behind a company called FairRent.NYC This company is focused on helping NY Tenants get better deals with landlords. Yet, built into the business is a 10% share of revenue that is going into NYC homeless housing. I have a strong opinion that what you do should be also having this macro vision and really trying to tie the business into contributing to our society and life.
OK!
So all this was inspired by someone talking about success and how the narrow focus on finances can make people blinded to the elements that will fulfill your life. So let me take a moment to reflect and conclude.
Success, in my point of view, comes from having accomplished goals in many areas of life, finances, personal life, investing in those people we love, in the sustainability and future of your activity and the contribution that you make to life itself.
Clearly these are lofty goals and require a ton of foundation to happen, for example, discipline, consistency, stubbornness, social skills, leadership, sense of humor….
But in this article I really wanted to help you to question a little your view of success and start to take a broader look at what you want to accomplish as well as how you are going to accomplish it!