Are you chasing success or significance?

If I asked you today are you chasing success or significance, what would you say? Honestly, until very recently, I could not have answered that question. Obviously I know what each word means, but I had never stopped long enough to really study them to know what they meant in the context of their differences. Everybody seems to be chasing success, whatever that means to each person. Success is preached in every seminar in every country. Everybody has what others need to be successful.

I was listening to a John Maxwell podcast last week and he asked that question. Before I tell you how he describes them, let’s look at what Webster has to say about them:

success

Definition of success

1a: degree or measure of succeeding b: favorable or desired outcome also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence

significance

Definition of significance

1a: something that is conveyed as a meaning often obscurely or indirectly b: the quality of conveying or implying

Does that make it clear for you? Me either, so let me put it in layman’s terms. Success is something you chase for yourself, and significance is not only for you, but what you do for others. Make more sense? So let me ask you again. Are you chasing success or significance?

What does success mean to you? To some, they have reached a level of success when their business is the #1 business in their industry in their area. To some it’s when they are able to buy that million dollar mansion, luxury car, travel anytime they want and run with the most “successful” people in their town. So, it turns out that I’m not chasing that level of success. I can answer that question easily. My house is 1000 square feet, I drive a 5 year old Toyota Camry, and my husband an even older Toyota Tundra, but my house is cozy, beautifully decorated, and full of love. Our cars are nice, we have a boat and we travel every year. So to me, I have reached a level of success. We own our home. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with either, I’m just showing you that success means different things to different people. No right or wrong answer to what success means to you. Don’t feel like I’m preaching if you’re that person chasing what I first described.

To some success means owning their own company, but to others success is having a job they love, where they can grow, make a difference, and make a decent income. Again, no wrong or right answer, just a different description of success. I have a friend in my town who owns her own business and she once told me, I don’t need to be #1 in town, I just want to have a reputable business where people say I do a good job, I can travel and have a good life, and so can my employees. I remember thinking that’s so honorable. That my friend was my first experience with the difference between success and significance. My friend is chasing significance, and I didn’t even realize it at the time.

So let’s talk significance. To me significance is giving back to enhance the lives of others. Significance was knowing when I wrote my book that my goal was to help one person, and it did. To most authors, the number of books I sold would not be considered a success, but I wasn’t chasing success. I wanted to make a difference and help somebody else. Success wasn’t important to me. I’ve heard the comments that I probably wouldn’t sell very many, and that’s okay! However, just this week I heard stories from two different people about the impact of my book, and I don’t even know these people! To most, having less than 100 followers on a blog would not spell success, but again, I hear over and over from people that they needed what I wrote on a particular day. No, I am not making money off of my blogs so to most of the world, I am not considered a successful blogger.

Significance is what can I do to change my world. Significance is what can you do to change your world. If you were blessed in life, do you look for ways to give back, or do you only hang with people who are like you, and spend your money on luxuries with no concern with those less fortunate? Only you can answer that question for yourself. Just like only I can answer that question for me.

Significance is random acts of kindness. Significance is giving to people who can’t pay you back, and that’s not just with money. Significance is raising kids who care about others, and care about the world we live in, and those less fortunate. Significance is giving up things to help your family and friends who need your help in their season of sickness, or of loss of a job, or death. Significance is choosing kindness. Significance is being thankful for your employees, and treating them with respect, appreciating their gifts, and what they bring to your company. Significance is not being selfish, and only thinking of your success. Significance is getting up every single day and asking yourself how can I add value to somebody today.

So I will ask you one more time, are you chasing success or significance? Chase success all day long, but strive for significance. Not only will you change your own life, but you will change the lives of others. You will impact lives that you may never even know, and on your deathbed you will be able to say, I lived a life worth being proud of. I left a legacy for as many people as I can. Today, I am chasing significance. Are you with me?

With love for you all,

Shauna