Been there, done that and got the freaking tshirt !

"Puan, I would like to get to know you and learn from a successful person like you" . This came from a young guy who claimed that he is still learning the way of the world and are looking out for Mentors. By Mentors, he meant those who have been there , done that, I presumed.

"Are you talking to me? " and proceed to look behind my back. . Just in case there was someone else there. In fact, there was no one. So he was actually talking to me. hmmm. What made him think that I am successful ? Is it my clothes, the way I speak, the way I carry myself? Perhaps it was the 15 seconds first impression that I so often emphasised in my Corporate image classes that I taught?

The truth is, success can be defined by many things. Not just by money or material possession. Unfortunately, more often than not, success IS defined by money, position, materials or even your birthright ie: if you were born into the royal family. In this order, I must say, not many then who will be successful or have the chance to be successful ever.

I once thought like that, that success would be difficult to attain , if it is all about how much money we earned or accumulated in the bank , then so many people are doomed! As I grew wiser (but not necessarily older) I realised, success is defined by we, ourselves. Not others!

And by definition , it could mean many things. But to me, it is the standards that we set for ourselves competing against ourselves. You got it? Completing a difficult course for example. Successfully building a life after a divorce without killing someone perhaps? Getting a job done? Getting some cooking done, I suppose? And many, many more example.

We don't have to live by the rules of society. Society is not always right. I am not asking you to rebel against society even though sometimes it may be necessary But then again, if certain things do not make you happy, then isn't it an indication that you need to do something about it and move on? Why don't you take it upon you to change the course of your own unhappiness? Easy pizzy ....

So yeah, maybe the young man was right after all . I could be successful in my own true definition of success! (unless of course if he finds out that my bank account has got only a few zeroes in total then, he may changed his mind I suppose !) hihi