Defining "Success"

This blog addresses the theme of understanding the Insights associated with achieving success.  If you’re reading this from our website at KCarpenterAssociates.com, you will find a lot of information about how we help companies achieve success as measured by financial return.  We have a rich history of helping companies understand the value of their projects and decisions across a broad set of uncertainties, and forming the Insights to Success that enhance their projects and strategies far above the initial base projections.

Our approach works for individual success as well. I have guided many developing employees in understanding what success means for them, and how to see the uncertainty in their future as an opportunity to enhance their level of accomplishments and their chances of succeeding.

However, we are all subject to the biases of our culture and many people simply assume that individual success is measured by financial accomplishment.

So let me tell you a personal story about just how wrong this default approach can shade our thinking.

I grew up in the Midwest.  Both of my parents were educators during much of their professional careers.  My Mom held a BS in Biology and a Masters in English.  She taught students from Kindergarten through Middle School in Missouri and then continued teaching adults in Saudi Arabia.  My Dad held a PhD in Chemistry and was a Professor at the University I attended in Northwest Missouri (Go Bearcats!), before returning to industry with Aramco.

I hold a BS in Chemistry with an MBA.  Education is important in my family and I naturally assumed it is a pre-requisite for a successful life.  If by success, we mean financial opportunities, then this is the normally accepted path for most of America to “get ahead” and “succeed”.

However, when we define success as Happiness, our paradigm quickly changes.  The press is full of stories about “rich but miserable”, as well as “less financially accomplished but happy” people. Happiness cannot be measured by a financial metric alone. Happiness is a function of many diverse drivers that most people have internalized but may have difficulty articulating. 

My son however, was clear about what would make him happy when he discussed his plans with me one day.  It was near his high school graduation date when he said “Dad, I know you want me to go to college, but I just don’t enjoy learning through a classroom. I like hands-on learning and I want to attend technical school to learn how to work on engines.”  Ross is a quiet kid, so it took a lot of courage to discuss this with me, and to have the strength of his convictions to talk about what would make him happy.  He also didn’t want to remain in our big city of Houston, and was interested in moving to a smaller town, back in Missouri.

I confess that his news was not met with the warmest reaction from me, and I could have been far more encouraging and supportive.  But we talked about it and he convinced me that he would be far happier with his approach than the plan I had envisioned for him.

Ross enrolled in the Universal Technical Institute, and while he was an average student in High School, became a high performer at the technical school, graduating this spring from the advanced diesel class with honors.  While attending school 30 hours a week for the last two years, he also held a full-time job at an auto parts store, working his tail off seven days a week and enjoying every minute of it. 

He’s just returned from Springfield Missouri where he’s secured a good job doing what he loves.

Ross has already achieved more success by age 20 than many people struggle to achieve through their lives.  I know he has the skills, drive, and character to carry him to further accomplishments, and will be a big success in life, regardless of how the world chooses to measure a winner.

When we redefine success as Happiness, we begin to reconsider our objectives – those goals and achievements by which we measure our lives.  For some, it may still be driven largely by financial accomplishments.  For others, it’s making a significant contribution to society.  For some, it’s working on challenging problems.  And for others, it may be as simple as doing what you love.

Ross was fortunate.  He found his definition of success at a young age and will have a rich and rewarding life as he pursues his dreams.

For most of us, it seems to take a bit longer.

And on a personal note - Ross, let me add – you and your sister are the most significant achievements of my life.

Love, Dad