Connect with us

Success Advice

7 Forgotten Ways to Find Success

Published

on

finding success

Society has an odd and narrow definition of success. Reality television portrays success as a lot of money, cars and fame. Yet, this is simply an illusion that society portrays. Unfortunately, we buy into it and believe that real success equals wealth or fame. Because the media and advertisements continually sell us this message, we begin to believe it. We also see it in our friends’ social media accounts.

Many of us begin to think that we are losing in life if we don’t have a particular house, job, car or status. We compare ourselves to the people around us and feel bad that we haven’t achieved what they have. Yet, we forget to take into account that society’s definition of success is skewed. You don’t have to find success in only the material and external things of the world.

Here are 7 forgotten ways of defining success:

1. Finding happiness within

Don’t look for success. Find out what makes you happy and do that instead. Happiness is a choice you make daily. Happiness is your perspective. Happiness is being grateful for what you have. Happiness is doing the things you enjoy doing and being around the people you enjoy being around. Happiness is living your values.

 

2. Having strong friendships

You’re connected more than ever but may have very little interaction with the people in your life. Much of our lives now come from the virtual world. If you’ve given up on friendships or think they’re too much effort, give them another try. Being around friends will help you laugh more, stay positive and feel more connected with the people around you. Even if you have a couple of friends who are close to you, you will feel more supported and cared for. Build, cultivate and care for your friends and you’ll achieve a level of success few people have.

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” – Helen Keller

3. Actively working on your passion

You don’t have to quit your job and travel to Bali, Indonesia to work on your passion. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, do that today. Start on your passion project even if it means doing research. Any time you spend on what you’re passionate about is success. Don’t worry about how it will make money or where it’s going. Each day, do the things you passionately enjoy doing. Do the things that don’t feel like work. Prioritize your passion project so that you’re working on it during your free time.

 

4. Helping improve people’s lives

An instant way to feel successful is to give. You can give your money, but more importantly, give your time, talents and abilities. Sometimes your presence for someone or just listening to someone is all that matters. The best part about giving is that you end up feeling much better about yourself. You feel generous, abundant, helpful and happy. Look for ways to give. Say “yes” to the next person who asks for your help. Give money to the panhandler on the street. Become a generous human being and make the world better.

 

5. Showing others love

Along the lines of friendships and helping others, love others. Loving others means being there for them during the good times and the bad times. Showing love means being compassionate, empathetic and helpful. Showing love means understanding where people are coming from and letting go of grudges. It’s extending kindness to people you know and to strangers. It’s saying “sorry” quickly and forgiving others so that you can heal the pain. Success is having love, giving love, showing love and receiving love.

 

6. Standing up after falling

Success is resilience, persistence and hanging in there when life gets rough. When you fall down and stand back up, you learn that you can overcome obstacles and face disappointments. Like some people, I let life cripple me to the point that I didn’t feel like waking up anymore. Yet day by day, I thought that I did have choices, I could make improvements and life could get better. It did! I’ve realized that coming back from my greatest falls is one of my strengths. I appreciate my challenges and have faith that I can face them with more courage.

“If one dream dies, dream another dream. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again.” – Joel Osteen

7. Living your own truth

The best way to find success is to live your own truth. What does this mean? It means living your life according to your own rules, your own values and your own intuition. This is often easier said than done, but if you keep the noise out, you can do it. Figure out what it is you want in life and go after it. Listen to what your heart desires and pursue that. Listen to your dreams and follow them. Listen to your calling and follow the path you’re being called to follow.

How do you define success in your life? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Vishnu Virtues is the writer behind the popular personal growth and spirituality blog for people starting over in life. You can find his weekly blog posts at www.vishnusvirtues.com and his Amazon books on love and relationships here.

Advertisement
7 Comments

7 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

Published

on

Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

Published

on

leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

Published

on

Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

Published

on

entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
Image Credit: Midjourney

When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending