2 Main Criteria of Success

image of an ice cream soda with the blog title: 2 main criteria for success

To understand the two main criteria of success, think about an ice cream soda and the straw that comes with it. One is nice; the other is necessary.

We discuss the importance of defining success your way on The BIGG Success Show today. Here’s a summary of that discussion

In his wonderful book, Success Is Within You – an oldie but a goodie – Howard Jay Whitman uses an analogy to illustrate a point about what he calls the “two main criteria of success.”

He talks about the straw and the ice cream soda. He says:

“If you want to fully enjoy an ice-cream soda it is nice to have both. But if you are to have one only, it is certainly far better to have the ice-cream soda than to have only the straw, for the straw is quite worthless alone.”

What is the straw? When other people think you are a BIGG success.

What is the ice cream? When you feel like a BIGG success.

Other people will place their success criteria on you. But BIGG success is life on your own terms.

It’s all about YOU! It’s singular, individualistic.

And that’s the way it should be.

It’s up to you to find the answers to questions like:

  • What makes you happiest?
  • How do you want to spend the most valuable resource you have – your time?
  • Where does your passion lie?
  • What do you need to achieve to feel good about yourself?
  • How will you measure success (fame, fortune, status, power, peace of mind)?
  • What fulfills your purpose?

Only you know (or can know) the answers to these questions. And that’s as it should be. Because recognition and adulation from others is great. They are nice, but empty on their own. Like a straw with no ice cream soda.

You’re the supreme judge of your own success. Your opinion isn’t just nice. It’s necessary. It’s the ice cream soda. And your opinion of your success is the only opinion that really matters.

What does BIGG success look like to you?

Consider our questions, write down your answers. You can even brainstorm with us! Send us a note.

Here’s to your BIGG success!
signatures: George & Mary-Lynn
George “The Professor” & Mary-Lynn
Co-Founders, BIGG Success

Direct link to The Bigg Success Show audio file | podcast:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/biggsuccess/01035-120120.mp3