Measuring Success

“It is not enough to be busy. The question is: what are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau

It seems the most common way to measure success is numerically.

But have you noticed that true success seldom shows up through the number of stamps on a passport, likes on social media or dollars in a bank account? We can get stuck, spending so much time measuring in these areas, but success is actually much more difficult to quantify.

But, success is also more worthy to attempt and wildly more fulfilling to achieve.

So when I reflect on the remarkably dynamic first half of 2013 – five countries visited, 32 states spoken in, 73 speeches delivered and 50,000 audience members impacted – I realize quickly that none of these are the number that I celebrate today. Today, when I celebrate success it is with this number: zero.

I have zero meetings scheduled, phone calls planned, speeches to share or projects due. Having nothing due all week frees me to be fully present with my family.

My wife, Beth, and I kicked off this week with a short weekend together in Chicago; just the two of us! We stayed downtown, saw Jimmy Buffett overlooking Lake Michigan, visited my sisters who live there, ate breakfast at the famous Bang Bang Pie Shop…it was a wonderful weekend.

Now, as the weekend has drawn to a close, we’re focused on pancake breakfasts, lazy days with kids, barbeque dinners and playing cards at night. No agenda, no plan and absolutely nothing to accomplish. The lack of scheduling frees us to be fully present with one another, mindful of what real success means and grateful for the opportunity to enjoy it.

My friends, today is the halfway point of 2013. The year is certainly moving rapidly!

Invest time today and throughout your week taking inventory how your year is going and refocusing on what real success means for you. Are you growing in the areas that matter most? Are you expanding spiritually, growing relationally and improving personally? Are you doing things professionally that make you not busy for the day, but truly successful in life? (Consider joining my Ignite Life Today Program to begin living your live of significance.)

Life is more than just being busy.

Remember to pursue passionately the things that lead to real success; real significance. Imagine using this week to propel yourself toward a remarkable second half of 2013. Imagine this being your opportunity to take back your life, ignite your possibility and change your world. Now that would be success and a holiday worthy of parades, funnel cakes and fireworks!

How has your first half of 2013 looked so far? What are you excited to achieve in the second half of 2013 in order to feel truly “successful”? Please share your thoughts in the comments.