Just as busyness does not equal productivity, activity does not equal accomplishment, and success does not necessarily equal significance. However, productive people are often busy, accomplishments require activity, and significance is not possible without some degree of success.
So, what is the difference between success and significance?
Success is what happens TO you and significance is what happens THROUGH you. People who pursue success focus on how they can add value to themselves. People who pursue significance focus on how they can add value to others. Significance answers the question, “How do I want to be remembered?”
Think about these statements.
Success can last a lifetime; significance can last several lifetimes.
Significance is never about accomplishment; instead, significance is the result of influence.
People will remember you for either the problems you solved or the problems you created.
“A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson
You can impact the planet right where you’re planted. Fix your sights on significance – strategically and intentionally plan each day, placing focus on making a difference for someone else.
“We should so live and labor in our time that what came to us as seed must go to the next generation as blossom. And what came to us as blossom may go to them as fruit.” – H.W. Beecher
“The purpose of life is not to be happy but the purpose of life is to matter.” – Leo Roston
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