Aim To Succeed

We should aim to succeed, not just achieve. Is this statement merely semantics or a catchy inspirational thought? Perhaps. Success and achievement both, indeed, imply that you have reached the desired result. However, the biggest difference lies in the objective. The objective makes a clear distinction between success and achievement. But why does it matter? If both indicate that the desired result has been reached, does the objective really hold any relevance? I think the question can be answered in an illustration. 

Imagine that you were hired to construct an aqueduct to transport water from a designated city to another. You were responsible for the entire project including the design of the channel. You complete the aqueduct and it works perfectly. The pipes, ditches, canals and tunnels used will transport the water to its distribution point as desired. It appears to be a bona fide success. There is only one issue: the distribution point was incorrect. The water being transported is going to an entirely different destination. 

Within this illustration, the vital points to consider are that the aqueduct was, indeed, constructed and that it had an incorrect destination. Therefore, the desired result was achieved in the construction, but since it was going to the wrong area, the achievement and execution of a functional channel provided no value because it didn’t go to the intended location. This is the difference between success and achievement. Achievement may encompass completion, but success denotes completion according to a directive. Achievement  is often driven by the prospect of accumulation for personal advantage, while success is driven by the prospect of influence for the expansion of excellence.

Historically, when I thought of success, I envisioned being in possession of all of the trinkets, luxuries and renown that are often displayed across our multimedia platforms. We often equate success with grandeur and then lured into the trap of comparing our success with the success of others. This is another precarious pitfall or slippery slope because we are not always comparing the same thing. Success is tied to purpose. The degree of success that you reached is contingent upon the degree to which you are fulfilling your purpose. We can attempt to satiate ourselves with achievement, but it will often leave us panting for that which actually quenches our thirst. 

Pitfalls of Chasing Achievements 

01 | Fleeting Contentment- This is the feeling of never being satisfied. It’s never enough. It can result in burnout and neglect of relationships. Each achievement is simply a catalyst or serves as a provocation to go after the next trophy. You will find that once the achievement has been reached, celebration even fades into the black, and it can be viewed as a waste of time and effort that could be used for getting to the next accomplishment. 

02 | Selfish Ambition- Ambition without compassion can lead to ruin. If the goal is simply self-exaltation then the danger that accompanies this is the compromise that can ensue in order to get what you desire. This will be done at the expense of others if it is deemed necessary. The other danger is that pride comes before the fall and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. I have found that the way to avoid humiliation is actually through humility. There is a passage in Proverbs that states, "Do not claim honor in the presence of the king and do not stand in the place of great men; for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here”, than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen." In short, if you want to avoid embarrassment, do not allow selfish ambition to lead you to climb up on your high horse to get knocked down on a short fall. 

03 | Misplaced Value- In the movie “Cars”, the main character, Lightning McQueen was enamored by the fact that Doc Hudson had, stored away in his garage, several Piston Cups, an award for winning a prestigious race. To his surprise, Doc Hudson referred to them as just “empty cups”. His point was that he attributed no value to the shiny objects that were meant to signify importance. The awards did nothing to add to his life. When we are chasing temporary things to validate our worth, we will find ourselves trying to grasp and retain the wind. We will place stock in titles and things that we think will change the value of our life, but actually just adds deception to it. 

Treasures of Pursuing Purpose

01 | Fulfillment- Have ever sat down for a good meal and at the end of the meal, you experience, just, this sense of pleasure? There is an appreciation for the quality of the meal and the experience that you have just participated in. This can be likened to the effect of pursuing purpose. You feel satisfied because you are full. The work that you have done is work that you were created to do and once it is done, there is that same sense of pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that you have done what you were intended to do. Everyone is looking for this satisfaction, this fulfillment. 

02 | Edification of Others- Many of us do not realize that our placement, the role that we have been assigned and the position that we were created to occupy is not only for us to reach success, but also to help someone else reach success as well. There is a unique gift given to each one of us that is to be used as an instrument to deposit something in another person. We are like charcoal that has been ignited. Each ignited coal has the ability to kindle the piece next to it and so on and so forth. Each charcoal has the ability within itself to be set ablaze, but it is the contact with a charcoal that has been ignited that releases the cold charcoal’s potential to burn as well. 

03 | Reward- Just as there is a prize awarded upon the completion of a race or event, there is a prize that is waiting for you upon completing the assignment that you were created to fulfill. This is your ROI (return on investment) and it transcends monetary accumulation although that may be included. What is really of value is the deposit that you make in someone else that could assist them in fulfilling their purpose.

A life marked by achievement will normally be characterized by the impact that it has on just your world. A life marked by success will be characterized by the impact that it has on the world around you.