how would you define success?
for me, it's mostly about moving in the right direction, exponential growth that necessarily includes years of work without any results but more time of "acceleration" that makes your life so enjoyable.
contentment and self-moderation which puts due importance to means rather than solely ends. i want to achieve exceptional results, and i am ready to put exceptional effort, but does not justify the possible deception, atrocities, and cruelty i may commit. ends is justified higher than means only if it is a required component of my life mission.
some people say don't plan for more than 5 years, but i think its better to plan from the end point. you notice: old people give away a lot. not because they suddenly became good. no. its rather that they realize death is no longer an abstract concept. death becomes an inevitable appointment. feeling they are not taking their wealth and power do they start giving away. i suppose you don't need to grow old to realize the inescapability of death, and if you plan from your death point to what you plan to do tomorrow, its easier.
put more bluntly, a day before your death, if you had to watch an autobiographical documentary, what would like to see yourself having done? what would you like yourself to have looked like? what kind of people kind of people would you like to see yourself having hanged around? what kind of wars and battles would you like to see yourself have overcome? i believe if you can visualize that and bring those ideals into action from day 1, that is success.
