Success can mean different things for different
individuals. For example, life success for a Muslim can be completing the
pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca; or for an athlete, being drafted in the first round
could mean the same. Individually we all measure success differently, this is one
of the most important messages we can get out of Robert Bellah’s, Habits of the Heart.
The American view on success typically means materialistic
gain. We are driven through capitalism and society to want millions of dollars,
fancy cars, and a comfortable exquisite home. These are all things we are
brought up to believe mean you are successful. Having the opportunity to grow
up in two different societies, I was able to witness the differences in how
success is measured between socialism and capitalism. In Sweden success is
typically measured by ones ability to provide for your family and give back to
society as a whole, in order to benefit the next generation. The fancy cars,
homes, and monetary superiority are seldom measures of success in contrast to
America.
Watching Steve Jobs video interview on the
rules for success, he speaks to us in the terms of gaining success through hard
work in an area that you love and are passionate about. For long term
sustainability, he explains, you must work hard and go through trivial times.
However, the key to success in his mind is that you need to be passionate and
love what you are doing. Bellah describes success between utilitarianism and
expressive individualism, as a difference between being successful in the
private or public arena. What I believe Jobs is trying to say is, if you are
individually successful (private) and you are passionate about that success,
you will ultimately be successful publicly.
The way in which Jobs pushes us to achieve the
things we personally desire, without taking no for an answer, is extremely
motivational.
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