This excellent quote from Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel, is one of the best definitions of success I have ever read:
“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all of your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”
In just a few lines, Meir touches on so many key facets of self development and success:
- “Trust yourself.” Don’t put too much weight on the opinions of others. Stop trying to be what the world tells you to be, but trust your own instincts and follow your own path.
- “Create the kind of self you will be happy to live with all of your life.” This is the secret that lies at the core of true success! Fame, fortune, and power matter little if you are not happy with the person you’ve become in the process of achieving those things. Invest in your own character, consider your words, actions, and attitude, and strive to be a person you truly like.
- “Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” There are sparks of possibility—hints of potential—within each and every one of us. Don’t ignore or smother those sparks. Fan them into flames! Read books, listen to podcasts, take classes, talk to mentors, volunteer for new experiences, take chances—and achieve new things, both great and small!
Heed the timeless wisdom of Golda Meir, and you can not only achieve greater success—personally, professionally and organizationally—but you can also be happy with who you are as you achieve it!
