Success? How to measure it?

How to measure success?

Some use money; others position; some a lack of failure.

I choose to measure success by viewing what would be different if I had not been part of the result.

Years ago I sold the largest project of its kind in Canada. In my defence I was too young and callow to know what I was doing was not 'right' so I was able to secure a positive result. Was I successful? Well, I did not make a ton of money because my Manager discounted the price for his reasons. BUT, I was successful.

In my naiveté I was able to affect a change in the landscape specifications after the Tender closed. Through my efforts the complete look and feel of the project was changed to what I was selling. Since then literally millions of people have enjoyed the results of my labours without even being aware of my contribution. I think that was a success.

Later I was part of helping a Municipality in securing a new piece of Fire Apparatus. Cold calling enabled me to uncover a brand new opportunity and to work with the Chief on setting the specification for the truck. Many bid but only mine met all the requirements and we successfully entered into service protecting a City of 30,000 for almost 25 years. I think that was a success.

Selling software to Primary Care I enabled the providers to improve the quality of their lives and the care they provided. On average that had a positive impact on the lives of 2,000 patients per. I surely view that as a success.

As a Shriner I am part of an organization that runs 22 Hospitals for the treatment of Children with specific health challenges. At $3,000,000 per day it is an enterprise that demands a lot of all Shriners to deliver. However, we are a highly successful organization because crippled, burned, cleft palate and spinal chord injured children have better lives at no cost to their families because of the effort we put in.

So I postulate that success is not measured by what we receive but more so by what our absence means. 

Be successful in your life by making sure your contribution benefits others; the dollars will look after themselves.