“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” —Leo Rosten
Financial success is a powerful motivator. And it controls the lives of many. It chooses occupations. It dictates how time, energy, and resources are spent. It influences relationships, schedules, and families. To some, it even becomes an all-consuming passion that leaves broken people and morality in its wake.
Unfortunately, it is not the greatest call we have on our lives. In fact, compared to significance, it fades quickly.
Consider the limitations of success:
- Success ebbs and flows with the economy. As recent years have proven, financial success is always at the mercy of a national economy and increasingly, a world economy. When the economy takes a downturn (as it always does), so does net worth.
- Success ends on the day you die. On the day you die, all wealth and possessions will be immediately transferred to someone else. And even if you get to pick where they go, the reality is that person is always someone other than you.
- Success is never enough. Financial success will never satisfy the inmost desires of our soul. No matter the amount of financial success earned, it always leaves us wanting more.
On the other hand, compare the advantages of significance:
- Significance always lasts. Significance will always outlast you. Even when you are no longer present, your significance will still be yours. And nothing can ever take that away from you.
- Significance carries on. Significance keeps on giving. When you positively change the life of another human being… and that person changes the life of another… who impacts the life of another… who influences another…
- Significance satisfies our soul. While the thirst for success is never quenched, significance satisfies our deepest heart and soul. It allows us to lay our head on our pillow each night confident that we lived a valuable and fulfilling day.
Unfortunately, many people spend most of their lives chasing financial success. And while some achieve it more than others, almost all find it unfulfilling in the end. When they begin to shift their life focus to significance instead of success, they wonder why they wasted most of their life chasing something different.
Don’t waste any of your life. Seek significance today.
Here are just a few practical steps to get you started:
1. Realize life won’t last forever. Everyone knows that life will come to an end – but no one likes to think about it. That’s unfortunate. As soon as you start thinking about the end of your life, you begin to live differently in the present. You are never too young to start thinking about your legacy. How do you want people to remember you? And what do you really want to accomplish before you die? Make a list. Post it somewhere… because rarely will “drive a really nice car” ever appear.
2. Live a life worth copying. Live with character, integrity, and morality. Your life should look the same in private as it does in public. And while no one is perfect, just begin striving for a life of integrity. It will be noticed.
3. Focus on people. Not dollars. Begin to transfer your life’s focus from your banking account to the people around you. Rather than worrying about the next get-rich-quick scheme, spend that energy focusing on your child, your neighbor, or the disadvantaged in your community.
4. Start with one solitary person. Find one person who needs you today. Start there. Significance may be as inexpensive as one cup of coffee or as simple as one heartfelt question. If you are unsure where to start, try this, “No, how are you really doing?”
5. Find a career outside your job. Sometimes, our day job leads to significance. But if yours does not, find a “career of significance” outside of your job by volunteering in a local organization. Most likely, your gifts, talents, or expertise are desperately needed. Use your job to pay the bills, but use your “new career” to pay your soul.
6. Realize significance is not dependent upon success. Too many people fall into the trap of thinking, “Once I make it rich, I’ll become significant.” This is rarely the case. Choose significance today. Begin striving for it now. If, then, financial success comes your way in the future, your mind will be in a better place to truly use your new success for broader significance.
7. Reduce your expenses. Learn to live with less. Living with less frees up your life to invest into others. And living with reduced expenses allows you the freedom to not spend so much time at the office and more resources on others.
8. Read biographies of people who sought significance rather than success. If you prefer recent history, read about Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela. If you prefer older stories, give Mahatma Gandhi or Harriet Tubman a shot. Either way, their lives will inspire you to make more of yours.
Rarely do people look back on their lives and savor their professional achievements. Instead, they celebrate the impact they have had in the lives of others. Give yourself much to look back and celebrate. Stop chasing success. Start seeking significance.
Image: Roberto Trm
About Joshua Becker
I love blogs and articles that make you “think”. Thanks for this one and for some thought provoking words. Having been both in the corporate world and in the entrepreneurial world, I wholeheartedly admit that for quite some time I fell into the almighty “chase a buck” trap. The system is geared toward “seeking $$” and producing workers who spend most of their waking hours creating wealth for the 1%.
The paradigm of finding meaning, combining one’s passions with one’s work and paying the bills too is an evolving one. We, as a society need to continue to have discussions like this for the next few generations as humanity continues to move more towards “enlightenment”.
I’ve found that my own journey has brought me back to my passion of environment and nature… something I “knew” from childhood. My career working for that 1% and then for myself, allowed me to start a nature sanctuary and for that, I am grateful.
I encourage others to seek out their zen and to combine their heart with their job and volunteer efforts. You can start off slow and with a plan, you can transition into being a happier, more fulfilled human being.
Wellnesste,
Christophe
I worked in a corporate setting for more than 4 years.. 3 companies in that span of time, and honestly saying, going to work then was such a struggle even how hard I try to motivate myself everyday. I know I could do so much more than that. I was not happy, and not really being very productive. I want to live my life to the fullest.
Then finally, I decided to work on an NGO, a child-caring institution. This was not new to me as I am an active volunteer in some organizations, but doing it full-time is so fulfilling. I’m waking up everyday excited to go to work, as if I’m not working but am only doing the things I love. Yesterday, I prayed for a kid who celebrated his birthday with the less fortunate kids. I also got the chance to talk with different people from different walks of life. The volunteers, the orphans, the donors, the people who dedicated their lives in caring for other people. This is really priceless!
Thanks Joshua for your inspiring message. There couldn’t be a no better time for this article for me. Just moved out of a long stint in success and trying to figure out “What next “.
I agree that some wonderful points were made in this article and it was quite thought provoking. However, as someone who has achieved significant financial success in my life, I disagree with some of the premises of this well written article.
1. Significance and Success are Not at all Mutually Exclusive.
The biggest was that success and significance are mutually exclusive. This simply isn’t true. I think Becker has a very narrow and negative view of success. I completely agree that success can be achieved the WRONG way. Becker’s definition of success is someone who is unbalanced and neglecting family and everything else in its pursuit. That’s an important point. If done the right way, success doesn’t have to ebb and flow with the economy. For instance, some of the most successful real estate investors make their biggest profits when the economy goes bad. Success doesn’t end when you die. I’d say it’s quite a legacy to leave all kinds of wealth to other people or causes that you care about deeply. Successful people I know have a blast in the process of the acquisition, rather than just thirsting for more, success is often the journey that’s so enriching. So while there are some who pursue financial success the wrong way and take advantage of others and obsess about it and “lose” their focus on what’s really important, I think the actual reality is that most financial successful people get there BECAUSE they have cared about people more than dollars. Money follows value and people get wealthy mainly because they create so much value for others and usually you have to care about others to really create that kind of value for them. Imagine so many of the great people like Tony Robbins and Stephen Covey who have influenced so much and added so much value and as a result they became wealthy. I would argue that more often than not significance follows wealth because wealth follows value.
2. True Significance comes from within your Career After
Financial Success has Given you Time Freedom
Of course, you can make an impact by doing something on the side like serving in your community part time. However, massive significance can come when you get obsessed with your passion and that passion creates value for many others, which brings you wealth to pursue this passion full-time. There’s many ways to make contributions on a part-time basis and I don’t disregard any of that, but why would you settle for doing something that you aren’t passionate about 8 hours a day and hope to make all your meaningful contributions to society outside of that? No, much better to get to the point of financial success that you can quit your job and make a real difference through your career rather than trying to do it part time. Becker says that people rarely look back on their lives and savor their professional achievements rather they celebrate the impact they have had in the lives of others. This is true for people who haven’t had financial success because almost all the impact they had on others was outside their career. Those with massive significance absolutely do savor their professional achievements because these achievements have had massive impact on the lives of others. They spend all day every day impacting lives rather than influencing a small few in off hours after most of their energy has been spent.
3. Don’t Reduce your Expenses, Increase the Value you Add and then Increase your Income and Live Your Dream
Why live on less and pinch every penny, that’s no way to live and be free. Rather, figure out how to add incredible value to more people and your income will naturally rise and then you are free to pursue whatever you want without financial constraints. You can free up your time to serve and create real significance through your actions now that you have the time to pursue the goals and dreams that matter most to you (see point #2).
4. Significance is not dependent on Financial Success, but Financial Success Greatly Augments the Opportunity for Significance.
Of course, there are many ways to achieve significance and you can read some biographies about the likes of Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela and the like. But, my guess is the vast majority of people who created real significance and influence on a massive scale have been financially wealthy. It’s just a simple truth that money will always follow value so most of the time people creating value for others are getting wealthy doing it and there’s nothing wrong with that. Again, given point #2, think of how many more people you can impact if you spend every waking hour on that goal. When someone has time freedom they can set up foundations, they can travel around the world speaking, they can hire others to get out their message and pay others to help them bring their value to the world. There are definitely some notable exceptions to this general rule, but wealth typically gives a microphone to have massive significance. Naturally, significance on a smaller scale doesn’t require financial success.
I share your criticism to a certain extent, but then, I disagree with some things you are saying in your reply.
Volunteering part time or full time, with a paid job in the NGO sector. .Wouldn’t it be just great if we could always combine the two and just make our passion our career all at the same time. But it just is not realistic in 99% of cases. I think the point made here is that if you have an insignificant job you don’t love but must have to live, adding a volunteering position will make that job bearable and will make your life more enjoyable. Sure, how much nicer it would be, if you could be a CEO of a grand foundation, getting both financial rewards and influencing countless lives, But if that is not on the books, a small scale sideline involvement will make your life better than some wild goose chase after the unattainable success
2. Yes, wealth may give you significance, but the sad truth is, the majority of people do not choose to follow that path. As a person involved heart and soul in a charity I believe in, I have frequent occasions to talk to wealthy people . Mostly they believe they are not yet wealthy enough to start giving. Those who have the local supermarket think that moment may come when they hava a chain, those who have a chain think they need to be owners of a national chain, those in the latter positon believe that time may come when they have a multi national operation. Whereas in reality you do not have to be a Rockefeller to become a significant individual. I find the article great for stating that misconception so loud and clear.
Great response and so true. I didn’t get the feeling that the author was being negative on financial success, but I will certainly agree that the larger points you made were missed in this article. The nature of money and power make it difficult for some (or many) to stay “pure” and not get ethically or morally derailed when it is acheived. Culturally, we are bombarded with messages that focus on consumerism as the end goal of wealth and that is a dead end street for sure. Thank you for.pointing out how success can be a tool for good and is also quite often the end result of caring and providing value.
This really resonates with me.
Less is more.
Compassion and giving to others.
Let it be.
Thanks for this article Joshua. I appreciate your perspectives on minimalism…this one is very timely and the Leo Rosten quote is really thought provoking.
Your article is right where i want to be.I have found to live life by being a minimalist and travel around the united states in a RV. I have been doing this for about a year and its invigorating to meet new people and see everything I can see. I don’t ever want to go back to the high paying job and the big house. Simple living and enjoying life is key.
I want to do this!!! I could sell my house, take the money and go but what happens when I run out of money!?! I have been dreaming of this. In fact went to see an rv today! And of course found 100 reasons to back out and stay stuck…[email protected]
Kelly I hope it was a used RV. There are many many nice ones available and much more affordable! You would have to learn to take care of it, maintain it, repair it, but you can do it!
That’s true when you move your thought on this side one will not want think about wealth associating with success
The purpose of life is to glorify God…it says so in the bible.
Yes! He blesses each of us with different skills and He establishes what actually happens for us all. Love God by loving your neighbor no matter what your circumstances; everything else is “chasing the wind”.
Joshua, your words make a lot of sense to me. I am in a period of profound transformation.Thank you.
This article is so powerful I printed it out to share with my four children ages 17-9. We talk often about what constitutes a truly worthwhile life. As homeschoolers, we have the privilege of reading many biographies of famous people who weren’t necessarily ever wealthy but whose legacy is powerful enough to survive into the present time. Thank you for a cogent look at what really matters, long after we are mouldering in the grave.
Wow.. I am going to read this three times – today, tomorrow and next day. I want this to sink deeper. You have changed my life.
Absolutely awesome. Thank you for writing this, you are making a difference!
Thank you. This really touched my life.
Great thoughts! Thank you so much!
Wow. Beautifully articulated and it is so true ! Thank you .
Agree with you totally ….Significance is any day more motivating than financial success.Thanx for giving me the insight!
Now if only I could get my husband to be inspired by this article. Thank you for sharing your writing. You have changed my life!
Excellent article Joshua, thanks for the inspiration!
Corporal death is not conscious death.
I don’t know anything about that soldier (Corporal Death) but Corporeal death is the death of consciousness, within a few minutes. No functioning brain, no mind. Unless everything science knows about the world is wrong, which is possible, though unlikely.
Awesome message, thanks a million. I found this message a day after I had been struggling on this exact topic. Feeling frustrated and unaccomplished, unsuccessful.
Words of wisdom, a brilliant post Joshua :)
Edit: With this comment I was referring to your thoughts on significance. I disagree about using mother teresa as a role model though – if you read and find out about the real person that she was, she actually caused a lot of harm to the world. She is no role model.
I would love to read more about regular people who pursue significance. Mother Teresa, Ghandi, and Nelson Mansela are tough to identify with for me.
Another great post, although I would recommend you google ‘the truth about Mother Theresa’ and keep in mind that Ghandi used to sleep with two naked 14 year olds to ‘test his resolve’. Perhaps it’s time we stopped holding mere mortals to standards of perfection and recognised that to be human is to be flawed. Just a thought.
Thank you for this article, this is exactly where I found myself and have just recently started. Not everyone understands it but it’s not for them to understand so thank you for being such a blessing!
Amen!
Joshua Becker, this is truly one of your best pieces of writing! I’ve been following you for several years now and appreciate your work very much! As a recently retired teacher, I know that I had a positive impact on my students’ lives. Now, I’m beginning to find ways to volunteer in a new community. Living a life of service to others is truly living a life of significance!
Great article. I have lived all my current 43 years in a third world. I find that here, the opportunity to be useful or significant to humanity are enormous. It doesn’t have to cost money really….my presence and support to those suffering is enough to warm up their day.
Dear Joshua.
Well written. Excellent thoughts.
Now, lets think about how to get that to the masses :D
Your writing has touched me profoundly. I am filled with ideas on how to continue my life with a focus on significance. I am remembering friends and family who have had a positive impact on me. I am also contemplating on who I may have influenced to see their own significance and feel cared for. Really, my mind is full! Thank you for the inspiration. I may start by writing letters (“old school”, but so lovely and enjoyed by people my age) to those who need to know how I appreciate them. Thanks again.
First of all – it is SO NICE to click on a link for an article and not be bombarded with ads and popups; to actually enjoy READing the article and not have to fish around to find it. So thank you!!!
Wonderful article. It is so true – I have worn many hats in my life, but the ones I am most proud of, that are most significant are the ones where I’ve helped others either through my business or work. Teaching, selling quality goods, volunteering, all are great.
I think that LISTENING is a tremendous gift. Sometimes the most significant people are those who Listen well and really Hear you. Money comes, money goes – but people will always remember not your words, but how it made them feel. Thank you for the reminder.
Your gifts are not about YOU
Leadership is not about YOU
Your purpose is not about YOU
A life of significance is about SERVING
those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose.
– Kevin Hall, Aspire
I’ve lived the last few years doing “significant” things: taking care of others, being respectful with nature, supporting my comunity, but then I realize I wasn’t earning enough money to fullfill my children basic needs. It is hard to look for significance when you are hungry, belive me.
This is a great article.
But:
– significance doesn’t last forever.
– you can be negatively significant (this article only assumes the positive)
– being rich and successful doesn’t mean that you can be a positive significance in other peoples lives. In fact you can probably do much more if you are rich. Just look at the charity work of Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.
This is such a great article. Thanks for sharing this thought-provoking piece.
I love this sentiment. I think the drive for financial success and the neglect for a wiser goal in life is a huge part of why, for instance, nearly 50% of the world’s wildlife has disappeared in the past 40 years. The world cannot take humans only pursuing money for very long. Sadly I think the majority of people will look at this mindset with disdain.
Can i translate this into Arabic and post oline. I find it highly illuminating and reflected alot of my beliefs.
Thanks in advance.
Loving everything about this post. I am finally pursuing a life of significance, thanks for encouraging me in this journey.
See comments above. I say it already been said: BIBLE = Basic-Instructions-Before-Loving-Eternity. LOVE NEVER FAILS. Taking in KNOWLEDGE means EVERLASTING (or Eternity) (happy) LIFE see: John 17:3…..Amen!
This is interesting many people today are wasting away in the endless search for success without seeking relevance and significance only to discover latter in life that success does not count what counts is how significant you are in your life time
So… What’s so bad about gaining financial success and passing it on to a different person when you die? If it ensures that my kids will have financial security after I die, then I’m all for financial success. And by all means, give it to them or to another person who needs it. I have no intention of taking it with me to my grave.
Financial success is necessary to live. Especially in unstable economic weather. Especially in places with no decent public health care systems, housing systems, etc. In third world countries, you have to work to survive. Your government won’t help you should you find yourself sick or unemployed or homeless. You have to earn money and earn more money if you want to ensure that the people you love survive.
How is that “insignificant”?
A significant life costs money. Stop feeding people lies.
Lovely and wise article, thank you! Meaning and signficance are subjective to to a large degree, but these values become universal when you can help your community in some way. Each individual has their own talents, and I agree that shifting the focus to good relationships and helping the community is a big step in the right direction. We need to widen our tunnel vision about money and jobs, so it’s not limited to simply making money and paying our bills, but opens onto a bigger long-term vision.
I wish life was this easy. Most people are too selfish to consider others nowadays you even have to be rich to be poor.Lucky I have a skill to fall back on
My experience is that life becomes whatever you believe it will become. Of the billions of things available for you to see each day, your mind will filter out and receive just a few, based on what you believe to be true. If you believe that people are selfish, you will see only selfish people. If you believe people are generous and thoughtful…well, you will find them everywhere!
The beautiful thing about a significant life is that it doesn’t have to cost anything. A smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a gentle heart; those are all things that we can send into the world for free, and that will have a massive ripple effect all around us.
Imagine how the world would change if we would each just do one random kind and gentle thing every day?! Those individual acts, when all put together, would overwhelm the world! (Desmond Tutu)
It took me to have a breakdown to truly appreciate life. I now work part time in a job I love (may I add for less money). Also I volunteer at a local school and have done for three years, this i really love and gives me a sense of true satisfaction.
The rest of the time i focus on my family and activities as a family, that don’t necessarily cost a penny.
I love reading all of your posts and find them enlightening. Thank you
I would like to comment on the high side of 70 years old. My husband and I recently reflected on the hundreds of young people we had as staff members in our 32 years of family restaurant ownership in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. We called them our “Homestead Kids”. Often we felt we were raising a large family. We never got rich financially Our customers were a part of our “family”. But we more than made up for financial gain in heartfelt pride in our kid’s accomplishments and love. I had occasion to feel this love when my husband of 51 years suddenly died in my arms in January. The presence of our “kids” and their families was overwhelming. I would not trade this for all the riches of the world! Thank you Joshua for this reminder.
The word ” significance ‘” is so apt …
For when my life became significant for me
It reflected in my words , actions , emotions
And interpersonal relationships .
Thanks to a friend who sent this link …
I got to read your article .
I love this article. I do believe, however, if you choose a vocation chosen not for the financial rewards rather one that reflects your authentic self, you live a soul-fulfilled life.
They say life is too short and that becomes their battle for quality (of life) . It also becomes too short when they go for something and somehow it gets mismanaged or people keep rubbing each other the wrong way . And then “life is too short” becomes the excuse for not following through on something they had as a good idea. Life is actually the longest thing you are ever going to get. Its longer than your success in playing college football or your career in the military or even just learning to play the spanish guitar. If you didn’t step out of your routines every so often then who’s fault is it if you have so many medals , trophies or money at the end of your world? Signify to be significant now because in the end there’s nothing that lasts longer than what you fed your soul – well maybe your youtube videos. Hehehe .
Don’t belittle financial success. Many worthwhile, rewarding activities cost money. One of my heroes is a man who worked very hard to build a successful business so that he could retire at age 50 and enjoy his passion which was racing sports cars. Had he been satisfied just to make a living, he could never have afforded racing. My wife and I are similar except that we are into horses and made our money by living below our means and investing the difference over a period of 30 years.
You sound like a very successful, fulfilled, self satisfied person. What prompted you to read an article entitled “Stop Chasing Success. Seek Significance.”?
Car racing does not sound like significance. The article says meaning, What are you as a person? What’s your purpose? What difference can you make? Not satisfaction.
Some things have different meanings to different people. Sometimes, people find meaning in the things they do however insignificant it is for others. Respect :)
Fast cars and horses…wow! What a legendary contribution to humanity.
Please expand Yolanda on their impact on humanity, how they interacted with others…You seem to know specifics or are you just painting with a broad brush from your point of view? Blessings.
What makes you think that you will be living till 50? The hard truth is you can die tomorrow or right now.