Strange as it may sound, “Success” is one of the most misunderstood subjects today. That is why so many people desperately want to achieve “success”, but so many do not achieve it.

That is why we need to understand what actually is “success”. We can start by identifying some very common misunderstandings about success. This is important because if your concept of success is wrong, it becomes much more difficult to achieve success !

In the previous sessions, we have identified 5 misunderstandings about success. They are :

MISUNDERSTANDING 1
Many people are not successful because of their background, such as their education, their family background, their childhood, etc

MISUNDERSTANDING 2
Successful people do not make mistakes.

MISUNDERSTANDING 3
To succeed, we have to work more than 60 (70,80,90…) hours a week

MISUNDERSTANDING 4
If you always ask for help, you will not be successful

MISUNDERSTANDING 5
You need luck to be successful

MISUNDERSTANDING 6
You will only succeed if you play within the rules

MISUNDERSTANDING 7
You are successful when everybody likes you


In this session, we shall explore misunderstanding number 8

MISUNDERSTANDING 8
Success is a destination

This is the very reason why we see some people never progress. Mis-understanding Number 8 causes successful business to go bankrupt, cause high-performing employees to become retrenched… because they mistakenly think that success is a destination.

My friend, success is not a destination, success is a journey. Life is a never-ending journey. We are always climbing from peak to peak. There is always more (and better) that we can achieve. Please also realize that “more” does not always mean “better”. For example, more money does not always mean a better quality of life. Nevertheless, in life, there is always something more and better that we can achieve. Notice also that I did not say “achieve for ourselves”. I only said that there is always more that we can achieve. What do I mean ?

When we have achieve enough for ourselves, there is no use trying to achieve more and more ad more for ourselves, and ourselves, and ourselves. There is only that much money that a person will need for himself and his family. There will come a time when you will have to stop trying to gather more for yourself and start giving more to other people (especially those who are less fortunate). Today, there are more and more people in Indonesia and the whole world that need our help.

So when you have achieved enough for yourself, do you stop ? Have you arrived at your destination ? No ! You move on.. perhaps not to benefit yourself, but to benefit others.

Success Is A Journey, Not A Destination

We’ve read this and heard it said so that times.

Let me give you 2 stories.

Story # !
There was a man who was very poor. He worked very hard to set up his own business. When his business was running, he worked very hard to keep the business running, and growing. He thought of many great and creative ideas to make his business more competitive, more attractive for the customers. They like his approach. He was starting to do well. The he thought of more ideas to systemize the organization. When it was already systemized, this man felt that his business was doing fine. So he came to work late, did not think much to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of his shop. He thought that his staff was sufficiently well-trained and did not equip his staff with new skills. He was contented with the computers and software that were installed. He very often thought to himself “Ah… I’m now enjoying the fruits of my many years of hard work. It’s time to relax, enjoy it and let the business run on its own.” At first, it was alright. And since the business was doing quite alright without his actual presence, he just let the business run on its own… no more new ideas, no more training, no more new staff, no more new methods, no more new equipment, no more keeping up to date with technology, no more trying to learn the latest trends.

Then one day, the situation changed. Competition became more aggressive. They started to use more up to date and competent staff – young people who could speak English and were very competent with computers. Technology now made possible for things that were not possible several years ago. With technology, competitors could sell their products to people half way across the world. With technology, competitors did not have to keep stock. They use JIS delivery systems. With technology, competitors could keep track of the latest exchange rates and started to adjust and change the prices of their goods according to the exchange rate. They are more competitive – he was losing his competitive edge. He was relying on a shop. He had to pay rental, maintenance, electrical bills, etc. His competitors did 20% of their business in a shop and 80% of their business virtual. Hey enjoy great profit margins from the cost savings. This businessman is now struggling. He doesn’t understand technology and cannot even have a general understanding of what computers are. His people are hopelessly out of date. His shop is depressing unattractive. His profit margin has now declined so low that he can even have the funds to renovate his shop. It’s looking to be hopeless. He is thinking of closing the shop….

What happened ? How did something so good become so bad ?

Simple answer : The businessman thought that he had arrived. When we have arrived, we tend not to move ahead anymore. The attitude of someone who thinks that success is a destination is that when he has achieved a certain level of success, he tends to relaxed, take it easy, and start to enjoy the benefits of his hard work… That is exactly when the problem starts !


Story # 2

There was a man who was very poor. The he got a job as a trainee in a bank. He was very glad that he was accepted. He appreciates the chance that he was given to work in this bank. He was very diligent. He worked very hard. He was honest, reliable and loyal to the company. He dreams to climb the corporate ladder to become a Brach Manager. He attended courses, upgraded his education level, etc.

Finally all his effort paid off. After 12 years in the bank, he was appointed a Branch Manager of the bank. He now has his own room, personal secretary, and is given a company car. “Ah… I’m now enjoying the fruits of my many years of hard work. It’s time to relax, enjoy the facilities, benefits and status of a branch manager !”

At first, it was alright. Then after a while, he started to get used to this new lifestyle. Coming to work late (because he was the Manager of the branch, so no one dares to say anything to him) and going home right on the dot. He was starting to enjoy his family.. go home early to play with his children. No more courses, no more updating of skills and knowledge, did not take such an active interest in company work and projects anymore because these took up too much of his time. He would much rather go home to be with his kids. “I’ve suffered enough. Now it’s time for me to enjoy.” Some years went buy. He started to see his younger colleagues getting promoted ahead of him. His status started to diminished. His name went further and further down the “Young and promotable executives” list. One day an economic crisis hit the banking industry. Many banks closed down. His bank was forced to seriously cut cost. Several weeks later, he was called to the Director’s office and was given a letter of termination and some money for his 18 years of service to the bank. He was fired in the MIDDLE of an economic crisis because the bank found that he had become a “burden” to them because he was enjoying a high salary, yet he did not have many of the knowledge, skills and qualifications that was required to help the bank to pull through this economic crisis. In a few short years, he had turned from an asset into a liability !!

Why ? Because he was out of date and had become irrelevant in the new situation.

Simple answer : The bank manager thought that he had arrived when he was appointed Branch Manager. When we have arrived, we tend not to move ahead anymore. The attitude of someone who thinks that success is a destination is that when he has achieved a certain level of success, he tends to relaxed, take it easy, and start to enjoy the benefits of his hard work… That is exactly when the problem starts !


Therefore, success is not a destination. It is an on-going journey. We climb from peak to peak.


Correct or misunderstanding ? Successful people clearly know the difference. That is why they are successful.