WHAT IS SUCCESS
Mood:  sharp

When I reflect deeply on my own success, I'm reminded of the tale of the brilliant and respected scientist who, after many years of single-minded
research, finally found the centre of the universe, and was surprised to discover that he was not in it.
My message to you is this: It is not our success that defines us, but how we define success.


At age 4, success is not peeing in your pants.

At age 16, success is having a driver's licence.

At age 20, success is having sex.

At age 35, success is having a good job.

At age 55, success is having money.

At age 70, success is having sex.

At age 80, success is having a driver's licence.

At age 90, success is not peeing in your pants.


With all due apologies over age 70, success is, after all, a relative term. Those of us working in the fields of technology have, by the discipline of our training, very rigid definitions of success. For us, it is a model or algorithm that accomplishes what we set out to do? it is a program that functions perfectly or hardware that performs without flaw. It is my belief that in our lives, both our professional and personal lives, success is a far more pliant concept. Success is not determined by the traditional measures of recognition and reward, but in the lessons we learn, even in failure, and the lives we touch along the way.

My definition of success is simple: It is to be at peace with yourself. And to be able to do it, and I borrow it, in part, from Benjamin Franklin, you have to be healthy, wealthy and wise.

Good health, of course, is a blessing, but one that is aided by disciplined living and a healthy respect for the amount of abuse our bodies can take before they rebel. If you are not healthy, there is not much you can do for others.

Wealth is also very important. Being wealthy is a matter of personal opinion, but in my view, you are wealthy when you have more than what
you need.

Note:Speech by IIT-M alumni Gururaj Deshpande. Rcvd. as a forwarded email.