“The most significant beings are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt. Their medium is being. Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don’t have to draw. They are the artists of being fully alive.”—J. Stone
Of all the billions of people living on this planet, the vast majority are striving for success. They work hard, they put in the time and many of them have obtained a level that the world would regard as “successful.” But what does that mean? Does success mean just finding and obtaining wealth and status?
My definition of success is getting what you want and finding happiness on a superficial level. Success is achieving goals without having much purpose behind those goals. Success is creating the life you want, but leaving no legacy.
So why be merely successful when you can be significant?
What I’m calling significance is a higher state of happiness and fulfillment, beyond being merely successful. Significance is the difference between the average physician with an established practice, and the rare doctor who travels to developing countries to perform necessary procedures on children while seeking no money, recognition or glory.
It’s the celebrity who donates time and money devoted to causes dear to their hearts. It’s people like you who change the world one heart at a time by using your talents to help the world.
In October 2010, I had the opportunity to be invited on board a U2 reconnaissance spy plan at the breathtaking altitude of more than 70,000 feet. With tears in my eyes, I saw the curvature of the earth and witnessed the majesty and endless blackness of space. It became clear that the earth was a complete system, that each of us needed to take better care of. It hit me that personal success dies with us, but that significance, what we do for others and the world, remains everlasting.
With all the challenges being faced in the world today, it’s time to focus not on what’s impressive, but on what’s important. We need to think differently, prepare differently and perform differently.
Our primary purpose in life is to experience the full measure of our existence, to broaden our minds, become artists of truly being alive and to leave this world as significant leaders.
Join me on this journey!
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