The True Measure of Success
written by John Chow on November 26th, 2008
What is success and how do you measure it? For many people, success is measured by dollar signs. The more money you make, the more successful you are. In the following video, I tell you how I measure success. Just like my Dot Com Lifestyle video, the answer may not be what you think.
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Wise words John!! As your previous post indirectly states, it’s important to see whats important, and not be blinded by the money factor
Thanks for the insight John. Taris you are right in that money isn’t everything. I’ve wrote multiple times that money shouldn’t be your primary reason for blogging. For me, I left my corporate job and became a full time blogger because of the lifestyle. Sure making great money doing what I love is a huge plus, but the free time and freedom of schedule is worth more then any paycheck!
Congrats!! I’m glad to hear you were able to make the transition doing something you love!
I’m personally trying to help people by giving them advice on how to TRULY look at the big picture and how powerful the idea can be to helping them live a better more stress free life. One article up, many more to come
Leaving the corporate job is a very brave decision and i know how much it hurts when we don’t have time in our control when working for some one. Will follow your blog.Thank you.
I agree with you.
What’s the secret to finding money to give if you don’t have any to contribute, and therefore cannot enjoy the benefits of receiving?
Money is not the only thing you can give. Time is even more precious to most charities. Give however you can.
Capice! Joann, you’re right – money is not the only thing you can give. For example, this thanksgiving day, I’m volunteering half of my day along with family and friends to feed the homeless. Since I don’t have the money to give, I give my time and share the few knowledge that I have. Giving doesn’t have to be material things, it can be someone’s time, company, etc etc.
Agreed. I was always brought up that charity starts at home, if you know what I mean.
Very right there. You should surely not blog for money. Passion is something which makes a blog, not thousands of ads or high CTRs.
But still money is very important and no one can’t ignore this
money is just one points of success …..still many other….
Of course it’s important, but whether it’s THE most important thing is another story.
I think able to spend more time with family mean more in terms of success..
yes…agree, everyday work hard…..making money and other …for happy life with family.
Powerful words, reminds me of some of my favorite observations- “You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” “How much money did Howard Hughes leave behind? All of it.”
Money is just a way to achieve success. Success is happiness within yourself and within the people around you. Success is different for every person. But if your life is in turmoil but you are rich then that is not success.
Very true!
yes….I can understand…..not absolute about money
You’re right. It’s that way with some celebrities. Marilyn Monroe was in the same position. So many people thought she had it all — money, success, fame, etc. They didn’t realize that she was actually not happy with her life at all.
True happinness
I Have donated 6 thousand Dollars!! Given back is what makes you.
Learn how I did it…..
you have donated 6 thousand???? wow that is a good people
That was very cool of you to do.
Good video post. Shows how different you think.
I am agree with u.
Very inspiring, I really enjoy video posts like this one.
From now on, I will try to give more …
Well its true all you said. But still we give first preference to money as it is the one that gives us everything we like, though one should not live only for making money.
I disagree with this. Money cannot buy everything.
Everything expect love and feeling
Success to me is being able to enjoy life with family, and my girlfriend.
Money can be made today, and if spent it can be made again tomorrow. But time does not rewind for missing those important birthdays and Christmases with family, because that time never comes back.
So to me success would be to have more time for family and friends. That is what truly makes life enjoyable and I would love to spend as much time as I can with what I enjoy.
Of course, being able to have money to help pay off bills and debt for family would also feel very successful as to get rid of the creditors call.
Hi John
I found this to be one of your more inspirational posts. What first attracted me to your site was your earnings posts, but I find that I don’t even look at them anymore. More power to you that you make what you make, but nowadays, I find these types of posts to be more rewarding and inspiring. Great post.
too many criteria about parameter of success…very individual
My concept of success is quite different from everyone. My dream is dominate the whole world. I mean I will make enough money to let all people in the world have wonderful life.
There should be only one country in the world, I mean all people on this earth should live in one country, a perfect country, I mean, there shouldn’t be countries in the world, we are just like one family.
This will be my success.
I’m going to say that you’re joking, but I did chuckle.
Absolutely terrific post, John.
It was nice to see your philosophical side.
Jamie
I enjoyed watching your video.
Regards
Wise words my dear friend.
Respect.
Awesome! And couldn’t agree more.
“the more you give, the more you receive”
That theory is verging on the Law of Attraction nonsense!
My Mother has been working as a volunteer 5 days a week for 8 years now at our local hospice…..
…… she has received nothing in return, & nor does she ever expect to!
Of course, you reached through the blog not alone me but also my sense as my self a guy not only working for the money ‘full’ n ‘full’ but for the “fulfillment” of my satisfaction that makes me happy and cool doing work as a relaxation and hobby and not with any stress.., and so earns not much but enjoy more.., however I’ll try to do more.
Yea, I was just looking at the Forbes 400 yesterday and it said that the Bill Gates Foundation is valued at $35 billion, that’s a bunch on cash to give away.
Oh yea, that same list showed that Steve Jobs gives away 0% of his income, yea, that’s a big fat zero. What does that say?
Maybe he gives some away secretly? I know that there are big-name people that don’t like to flaunt how much they’re giving away daily.
Happy Thanksgiving John!
Good people always recieve Good pay back.
very true… money is not success…
Great video I guess it truly does begin with mindset
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa
So money is not success?
It certainly, is much easier to say from John Chow’s lofty chair.
Well, he’s happy where his LIFE is at. I doubt he’d be happy if all he had was the money & nothing else that’s good.
Hi John.
Nice post and sentiments, But…in order to live the ” dot.com lifestyle ” you have to have the cash to do it.
I work a full time job at the moment, come home try to do a post on my three blogs ( which doesn’t always happen ) and try to do some work on the blogs.
Want to monitize the three blogs, in order to have cash flow, in order to let my wife finally retire from her job, in order for me to stop going o my job,in order to have the cash to afford a nicer home, in a different climate…you get the picture.
Sometime success is measured by how much cash you have…have the extra cash, you can do a lot of great things with it, including donating to worthy causes, buying that million dollar home, and having the affordability to live the dot com lifestyle.
Lew
The more you serve, the more you get!
That’s right on!
It’s thanks and giving!
People want to make money online so they can support their families. They want to be successful in order to support themselves and their family. I think that is why they measure success in money. Without it you won’t be able to support a family or anything. Sure, giving is great, but you can’t give if you don’t have anything to give in the first place.
I still don’t think it automatically equals success though. It’s great, don’t get me wrong – but the real question is if that person is happy about what they’re doing. You can work at a job & make loads of money, but hate the job itself.
SUCCESS = POM POM : Peace of mind , plenty of money
I agree that money isn’t everything. Anyone can make money, but here’s the thing: are they HAPPY with the way they’re making money?
I like that I’m my own boss. No one can tell me how to run the show. There is no limit as to how much money I can make online, unlike a regular job, where you can only get the minimum wage, unless you get a promotion. I still like what I’m doing better AND I actually enjoy doing it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
To me, that’s real success.
Wow. You put that very well. A fine example of why, during my job interview, when I was asked who some of my hero’s were, I listed you. You are a very wise man. Thank you.
Great message to post during this holiday season John!
Amazing Post.
Totally agreed, I cant wait to achieve some success from my blog and be able to donate to a few charities, but I hope to do it personally, Because I know when it goes via a organisations the whole amount never get’s there.
great……god luck!!
I can’t believe this idiot actually makes this much money. If he can do it, half of fucking asia can do it. Don’t know why all you idiots follow him…
That is really wonderful.
Love your ending line.
“If you want to live with the classes, serve the masses.”
john love the wise words.
the universe will provide everything you need. And when you give the universe rewards you 3-100 times what you put out there. It works for both positive and negative.
And if you give more $$, time or expertise to worthy causes more people will be attratced to you in and reward you richly.
in heatlh Paul k Turner
keep giving….
I also think that we put too much emphasis on money unnecesarrily.
Of course we need some money to survive.
We really need to give people what they need – and we’ll get what we WANT ultimately.
If you truly help people, say, with quality information on how to make a living out of the internet – they’re going to rave about you to other people – and ultimately it’s going to be beneficial to you – as they may buy your products – and you will also create a huge fan base.
Hey John,
Loved the message here. I really appreciate it when successful people touch on the subject of spreading wealth, among other things, to others. I Love what Bill and Melinda Gates are doing in the world, and no matter how much some people seem to hate him, he is really making a huge difference. Nobody can argue that. Thanks for the video, looking forward to more great things!
Ryan
Great video. I agree, the ability to be able to help others is a true measure of success.