In the measurement world, we set a goal and strive to achieve it. In the universe of possibility, we set the context and let life unfold.
Benjamin ZanderRead
I have a definition of success. For me it's very simple. It's not about wealth and fame and power. It's about how many shining eyes I have around me.
Interpretation
Success is measured by the joy and inspiration you bring to others rather than material wealth or recognition.
Benjamin Zander's quote redefines success away from traditional metrics like wealth, fame, or power. Instead, he emphasizes the significance of creating a positive impact on those around us, measuring true success by the happiness and enthusiasm he sees reflected in the eyes of others, suggesting that meaningful connections and the ability to inspire are the true markers of a fulfilled life.
In practice
In a motivational speech about personal fulfillment, someone might use this quote to inspire others.
In the measurement world, we set a goal and strive to achieve it. In the universe of possibility, we set the context and let life unfold.
The major difference between the 'best' and the 'average' is that the 'best' get as much pleasure from practice as performance.
This is the moment — this is the most important moment right now. Which is: We are about contribution. That’s what our job is. It’s not about impressing people. It’s not about getting the next job. It’s about contributing something.
Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.
The best social reform program in the world is a job.
Figure out what you love to do, then figure out how to get paid to do it.
I'll drop something for a while, a year or maybe several years, and then pick it up again. I think that's the way successful innovators work. They keep juggling ideas, keeping them in the air, in the back of their mind, to inspire them or enable new recombinations.
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.
I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then got off the tour bus two years after that, and I didn't know who I'd turned into.
You're standing onstage in a sold-out arena with people singing your music, and you feel like the loneliest person in the world. Because here's a party that, essentially, it's for you. And you still somehow feel like you don't belong there. Those people all have their lives and go back home.
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