Today I am 41. By most objective measures, the past twelve months have been enormously successful for me.
- I made more money than I’ve ever made in my life. (Far more.)
- I published a book that has just been released from O’Reilly Media.
- I completed a marathon. (I walked it instead of running it, but I finished.)
And, of course, I continue to write and edit a popular personal finance blog.
Why then do I feel unsuccessful? What is it that leaves me unfulfilled? What will it take for me to consider myself a success? And, more to the point, how can I help others learn to be successful too?
Success Daily is my vehicle for exploring these questions. It’s a chance for me to explore the world of personal growth and self-improvement. I’ll share what I learn about leading a health, happy life, about life-long learning, and about building meaningful relationships with others. My goal is to help you become more successful as I do so myself.
A few notes about this blog before we get started. First, Success Daily will contain no advertising, not even affiliate links. This policy may change in the future, but for now this site is ad-free.
Second, mine will not be the only voice here. Though I’m editing this site and am the only active writer, I welcome guest articles from others. And, in fact, I’ve arranged to share contents from the archives of three of my favorite blogs: Zen Habits, Soul Shelter, and The Simple Dollar. The authors of these sites have graciously permitted me to pull their “greatest hits” and edit them to share with a new audience here.
Finally, the content at Success Daily will necessarily be informed by my own personal experiences and ethics. You and I may not hold the same views, but I respect your right to believe as you do, and I ask that you grant me (and whatever community may develop) the same courtesy. Though we may disagree on certain points, let’s agree to help each other in our mutual search for success.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy (belated) birthday, J.D. “Success” can look so completely different to many people, so I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of community develops here.
Whatever brings you closer to your own definition is good in my book.
Happy Birthday! Looking forward to watching this site grow and evolve.
Hi, JD. I have been reading GRS for about 18 months and I am a huge fan. I am slowly taking steps to improve my own situation, and I find myself inspired by you and the success you have had. I thank you for sharing this more personal blog with us. I appreciate the information and the subject matter. There is a sense of spiritual depth here that seems to be searching for deeper meaning here. As if you are wondering what’s next after you are free from debt. I look forward to seeing what you find.
Wow, I’m really impressed. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I think success is so hard to define for me because I tend to be a perfectionist. Will there ever be enough accomplishments to feel successful? That cup can never be full since I will always want to be successful in more things than I am now.
But lately I have been realizing that it’s all about progress, and enjoyment. Two questions I ask myself – am making progress to where I want to go? Am I enjoying 90% of every day? So far all answers are yes. I just need to live in the present moment and relax about ‘success’. :)