Chief Executive Issue 2 | Page 22

PEOPLE 9 SIGNS YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL even if it doesn’t feel like it If you’re ambitious, you’re bound to feel like a failure from time to time. Lofty goals lead to inevitable moments when you aren’t yet living up to your expectations. We live in a world that reinforces this feeling. Though most people won’t admit it – other than the guy with the ‘He who dies with the most toys wins’ bumper sticker – in the back of our minds, we equate material possessions with success. 22 - CHIEF EXECUTIVE It’s a shame we fall prey to materialistic thinking because we certainly know better. A study by Strayer University found that 90 per cent of Americans believe happiness is a bigger indicator of success than power, possessions or prestige. Digging a little deeper, 67 per defined success as “good relationships with friends and family,” and 60 per cent said it is loving what you do for a living. Only 20 per cent stated that monetary wealth determines success. But saying and doing are two very different things. When it comes to success, our eyes often lead us astray. It’s hard not to feel like the most successful people are those with the biggest houses, the most expensive cars, and the most influential friends. Regardless of what you achieve, there’s always someone with more, and this can make you feel like you’re losing. The problem isn’t your lack of toys; it’s believing that toys indicate true success. Real success is about who you are and how far you’ve come. If you ever worry that you’re not as successful as you should be, you may be evaluating