Success is multi-faceted, comprising both subjective and objective elements. The definition of success varies for each individual, and it is important to strive for excellence regardless of the level. Whether it is at high school, college, or professional level, the key is to be the best version of oneself. A family mantra emphasizes the importance of excelling wherever you are in life. A story about the speaker's grandfather highlights the tradition of rewarding academic excellence, showcasing how success is valued and celebrated within the family.
What matters more: meeting our own ambitions, or winning fame and glory? What’s it like to earn a gold medal at the Olympics? And why didn’t Mike’s grandfather get a watch?
- RESOURCES:
- "Why Success Doesn’t Lead to Satisfaction," by Ron Carucci (Harvard Business Review, 2023).
- "Katie Ledecky Matches Michael Phelps Record With Dominant World Championships Win," by Patrick Andres (Sports Illustrated, 2023).
- Success Index, by Populace and Gallup (2019).
- "PERMA and the Building Blocks of Well-Being," by Martin Seligman (The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2018).
- "Michael Phelps: ‘I Am Extremely Thankful That I Did Not Take My Life,’" by Susan Scutti (CNN, 2018).
- "The PERMA-Profiler: A Brief Multidimensional Measure of Flourishing," by Julie Butler and Margaret L. Kern (International Journal of Wellbeing, 2016).
- "Diana Nyad: Dream Accomplished," by Michel Martin (Tell Me More, 2013).
- "A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success," by Alain de Botton (TEDGlobal, 2009).
- "The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding," by John Wooden (TED, 2001).