Too often we define success by looking in the review mirror. We look at our accomplishments to see how our peers and employers value our contribution — measured by our salary, position, or influence. In other words, we let the market be our measure of success or greatness.
Seth Godin talks about this phenomenon as it relates to a work of art, or a song. If the picture sells for a lot of money, or if the musician becomes really famous, our society tends to assume that there must be some inherent quality that makes it great. He says
“After all, what makes a great work of art should have nothing at all to do with how much it sells for and everything to do with how it makes you feel. I think the game here is in the definition of ‘great.’ And what society has chosen…is that ‘great’ means successful. Not the other way around.”
We tend to do the same thing with our careers. We spend too much energy focusing on how to be “great” instead of how to be “successful.” We find success by using our gifts, talents, and passion to help or serve others. We find success by discovering and doing what we are created to do.
The family-friendly film The Ultimate Gift opens this weekend in about 800 theaters. It is not an Impact Productions film but the story was written by Tulsa native Jim Stovall who is a friend of Impact and we had the chance to screen the film last summer. It is a heart-warming story and has some great life lessons. It features respected actors including Academy Award nominated Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), James Garner (Space Cowboys, Rockford Files, Murphy’s Romance), Brian Dennehy (Cocoon, Tommy Boy, Presumed Innocent, First Blood) and Bill Cobbs (Night at the Museum, The Color of Money, Trading Places). If you get a chance to check out this movie, it is worth your time.
One of the lines in the trailer that stood out to me is this:
“I don’t know if I have my own dream, but I do know that I can help others fulfill theirs.”
This reminds me of something a friend told me years ago: if you help other people get what they want, then you will ultimately get what you want. I think we often discover our dream — our purpose — by serving others and helping them fulfill their dreams. I’ve noticed that when my life starts to feel unfulfilling or unsatisfying, it’s probably because I’ve quit serving.
I hope you will join me in supporting good family-freindly films by going to the theater to see this movie.
4 Comments | 
Careers, Dreams, Job search, Passion, Service, Work | 
Permalink
Posted by Steve C Wilson
