The SUCCESSFUL OF OUR TIME

"it's never too late to be what you could've been?"
Follow your Passion...

The Successful of Our Time
Steve Jobs

One of the most successful companies in the world today is Apple. When we think of Apple we also think of Apple's ex-CEO, the late Steve Jobs. Carmine Gallo wrote an article called, "The Seven Success Principles Of Steve Jobs," which outlines seven key factors that are responsible for Jobs' success. The article is based on multiple interviews with Apple employees and Steve Jobs himself. Believe it or not, the No. 1 principle in this article is, "do what you love." Steve Jobs believed in the power of passion, and once said, "people with passion can change the world for the better." Jobs claimed that the passion he had for his work made all the difference.
Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner, the once homeless man turned multi-millionaire stockbroker that Will Smith plays in the movie, "The Pursuit of Happiness," once expressed what he believes is the secret to success. He stated that he believes the secret is to "find something you love to do so much, you can't wait for the sun to rise to do it all over again." He explains that the most inspiring leaders are those who don't work at a job, but pursue a calling.
Mark Zuckerberg

These days we cannot talk about success without mentioning Facebook and Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. The 27-year old billionaire has changed the world we live in. In David Kirkpatrick's book, "The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of The Company That is Connecting The World," Kirkpatrick lists what he believes are Zuckerberg's ingredients for success. One of these ingredients is, you guessed it, follow your passion - not money. Zuckerberg suggests to "follow your happiness," and explains that even if you don't end up making a fortune, you'll at least be doing what you love.
Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, known as "the Oracle of Omaha" and probably one of the greatest investors of all time, usually talks about his secrets to successful investing, but even Buffett knows there is more to success than money. In Parade's article, "10 Ways To Get Rich: Warren Buffett's Secret That Can Work For You," Buffet ends off his list of advice with, "know what success really means." He explains the importance of finding what it is that brings true meaning to our lives, what makes each day important and to make this our focus.

It's Never Too Late

For those of us who have been thinking, "I'm already following my passion" while reading this article, that's great! You should appreciate that because you're in the minority. According to The Conference Board, over 50% of Americans were dissatisfied with their jobs in 2010. It stated that most Americans were only working for their current employer simply because they had to. Now, obviously, most of us have to work one way or another (unless you were born into riches and are completely spoiled). So, don't just quit your day job because you aren't completely satisfied. However, that doesn't mean you can't pursue another more fulfilling career-path part-time. Have you ever heard the saying, "it's never too late to be what you could've been?" Well, it's true. If you have an idea of where you want to be, you can still make moves towards getting there. If you have a full-time job to support you while you make that transition, that may actually be even better.

The Bottom Line

True success is much more than having a lot of wealth and fame. Enjoying the work you do is, in some ways, more important than having a large bank account. Plus, if you enjoy the work you do, there's a greater chance you will do great work and get paid accordingly. If you're thinking about starting your own business or just struggling with this in your own personal career, you may need to think about what you're passionate about. It may not be easy, but chances are it will be worth the effort.