Success is a play in Branding

When I started this business, I thought that after a specific period of time, I will have the answer to whether I've 'made it' or not.

Business... much like life... isn't like that at all. 

It's not black and white.

There's a whole spectrum, and at any point... you don't know if you should just hold on a bit longer or count your blessings and call it a day.

Sometimes it drags you along... 

So if your version of success in business (or in life) is based on someone else's... or perhaps something that's implanted in you over the years of your life...

Then you'll always be chasing. No contentment. No sense of fulfilment.

Once I heard a business leader talk about this concept that we should never be content. Because that spirit of discontentment will drive us.

I guess he has a point. But question is... drive us to what?

Success?

By whose standards?

the whole idea of success that's probably your head (in our heads...) — that nice car, luxury lifestyle, and when you're younger, all that social life, parties and... frolicking...

To paraphrase a line from Mad Men... "what you call success, was invented by guys like me... to sell (insert product)"

It's easy to get to someone, if we know what he craves. And if he doesn't crave it the way we want him to crave... we'll just convince him that he needs it. We'll confuse the heck out of his wants and needs, and we'll turn it to desire...

People in branding and marketing have done it countless times to all of us... I'm talking about humanity here.

From diamonds, cigarettes, vices, luxuries, and even acts of selflessness... all from clever manipulation of the human desire for 'success'. Ok, manipulation is a strong word... perhaps 'representation' would suit better.

MY POINT IS...

Define success by your own standards. Make sure it's pure. Make sure it's built on pillars of your own beliefs.

And if you have no foundations or pillars... best to start seeking.