Success means here !!!

My daughter Prithvi left home and moved into the dorm at UC Berkeley this weekend (08/22/09). Congratulations to her !! I dedicate this post to her future growth & success.

What does "success" mean to an individual? How do you define "success" in an individuals life? This is an important question every one should be thinking of. To answer this question better, this topic has to be looked at from
a) Individuals point of view
b) Family's point of view
c) Outsiders or public point of view
Reason I say this is that India's former president Dr. Abdul Kalam or Michael Jackson may be very successful people from public view point but may not be so from family side though. I am sure Dr. Kalam's family would have liked him to marry and settle down in life ? I am sure his intellectual genes were not passed to the next generation which is a huge miss to the world. Same is true with MJ who lived a life I am sure he didn't relish. He is a good example of money is not equal to success or money is not equal to peaceful life.
Back to my point that success should be defined and measured based on all 3 above I guess in the same order. You need to set goals and measure against your success. You as an individual should enjoy the success. Second comes your family who is all behind you should enjoy and support your path and be part of that growth. Third comes the public. You don't live for the public but they are equally important to trumpet your glory.

Let us break down a person's life into following age grouping if you will for this analysis.
Age 0 to 18
Age 18 to 24
Age 24 to 40
Age 40 to 60
Age 60 & above
Success in each age category means different things to a person. Every phase is as important as the other. To elaborate further
Age 0 to 18: You are measured based on how well you performed in school. How well you excelled in your extra curricular activities. Did you get into your college of choice and how that college is recognized in the outside world. Going back to my other theory this has to be analyzed based on how much are you satisfied with your performance, how much your close family is happy about your logical end at 18. How the public looked at you at the end of this phase. This phase your family is responsible for 90% of your success and 10% is yours.
Age 18 to 24: This is the bracket where you pursue your college life UG, Graduation, PG, Doctorate etc. This is the stage that lays foundation for you to launch a career. If you don't focus and take wrong decisions you will end up with wrong results. Lots of money(your parents ofcourse), your time goes into this phase of life which is very important as you are responsible for 90% of your success or failure and your parents may be 10% or less. Identification of the right life partner is part of this life.
Age 24 to 40: Success here means choosing the right career, partner & children. You are 100% responsible here. Very small or negligible percentage is from your family.
Age 40 to 60: How well you bring up your children or how well you pass on your tradition & culture to the next generation. You are measured by what your children do & what you contribute to the society. This phase you create a name for yourself or for your family. What you do during this phase will be the legacy you leave for the next generation.
Age 60 & Above: Phase where you plan for your next birth. Phase to enjoy the fruits of 60 years life. Slow down and think about how you can contribute to the society. How useful you can be to the world instead of living like a vegetable or a body passing time awaiting death. Important phase to think of what you want to hear from the next generation standing near your coffin !! How do you want your legacy to be remembered.
After Death: You are remembered not for your academic excellence but for the knowledge you passed to the next generations through your association with the community and the effort you spent in teaching your learning. You are not remembered for the wealth that you accumulated but for the wealth that you shared with others through community services activities.

Note: A person is successful when he or she has taken good care of health, education, finance, relationship with kith & kin & created the next generation.
What legacy are you leaving behind will sum it all?