Success, Like Happiness, Doesn't Get Pursued, It Gets Ensued

The Illusion of Pursuit

We’ve all seen those motivational posters - the ones with the fist-pumping businessmen or women smiling victoriously. “Success doesn’t come to you, you go get it!” the caption urges. On the surface, it’s an alluring idea: that passion and hustle alone can capture success if you just put your head down and power towards your goals.

But what if that view is fundamentally flawed? What if success can't actually be possessed or attained, but instead ensues from the meaning we find in our pursuits?

The problem lies in how our culture defines success - as money, status, promotions, trophies on a shelf. When it becomes a transactional checklist, a quest for validation outside ourselves, it eludes true fulfillment. Because the next rung on the ladder always appears, a new benchmark for comparison. The high of achievement fades quickly when your gaze turns again to what’s next.

Happiness reveals a crucial insight here. It does not arise from fixating on feeling happy all the time. It emerges as a byproduct of the meaningful things we immerse ourselves in - raising kids, creating art, helping others. Happiness is the fragrance, not the object itself.

Real success operates similarly. Chasing accolades and status rarely satisfies long-term. But dedicating yourself to mastery, purpose and growth - that sparks vitality. Your steps gain meaning when the goal becomes self-actualization, not just trophies.

When You Are Happy, Success Will Follow

This suggests a deeper truth: success is not seized, it ensues. Lasting achievement flows from losing yourself joyfully in pursuits that light you up with meaning. Callings align work with your innate talents and sense of purpose. The work becomes the reward.

When passion becomes calling, external measures fall to the periphery. Success ensues from the profound significance you feel, not just baubles collected. This mindset liberates.

None of this means external success does not matter - reasonable wealth provides freedom and security. But there are degrees. Amassing fortunes just to accumulate more traps you on the treadmill. However, modest means that fuel purpose and joy? That brings truer success.

There is no formula, of course. We each write our own recipe for a life well-lived mixing passion, relationships, purpose and livelihood.

But in that recipe, let significance guide over accolades. Feel fulfillment in the climb, not just the summit. Set ambitious goals, while appreciating the deep now. Then, in striving, ask “Does this make me more alive?” If yes, continue on. But if it becomes compulsive ladder-climbing, pause. Remind yourself success ensues from engaging the journey, not just accumulating.

Modeling Successful Behaviors for Your Achievement

As leaders and culture creators, we can model this mindset shift. Applaud excellent work itself, not just results. Share stories of human impact, not just metrics. Discuss ethics and purpose alongside profit. Show workers they matter as whole people.

When business fuels meaning and purpose while driving performance, work transcends transactional. Passion and ingenuity multiply. People yearn to perfect crafts and serve others - not just build empires.

In many ways, the narrative has progressed. Discussions of mental health and work-life balance recognize that life is not about ladder-climbing. People want to thrive, not just survive.

Yet hustle-till-you-die mentalities still dominate in places. Opting out brands you a failure.

But remember, you write the rules for your one life. If chasing validation rings hollow, try a new formula. Follow callings resonating with your soul. Savor the ensued joys. Keep ambition, but expand definitions of achievement. Master, serve, connect, create. Let significance ensue.

Balance achievement with relationship, experience, service, growth. However these mix uniquely for you defines success. No cookie-cutter answers exist.

But the guiding truth remains: Fulfillment cannot get seized, only ensued. However that looks for you - live it fully. And let yourself shine.

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