A young professional I met recently asked to spend some time together over lunch. As he put it, he wanted to understand what makes a successful Christian businessman, and he thought I might know. His question brought the aforementioned quote immediately to mind. It’s one of my favorite definitions of success because its measure is determined by those who see the good, the bad and the ugly. For most of us, it’s our immediate family. They are witnesseses to our character and integrity—how well we consistently live what we profess under the most extreme of conditions. It’s also a favorite because its measure is not the accumulation of titles, power, or wealth, but rather the currency which is most honored among men because it is so judiciously bestowed—respect.

Your thoughts? What are some of your favorite definitions of success?

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The movie Poltergeist tells the story about a family coping with a haunted house. In one scene the mother, hearing her children screaming from their bedroom, starts running down the hall toward them. The faster she runs, the farther the hallway magically stretches out before her. Success, it seems to me, is like that hallway. We certainly can’t wait on it—it doesn’t come on it’s own. But the more we chase it, the farther it stretches out before us. On its own, success is elusive. It makes a lousy goal. Better to move ahead without it and let it catch up later.

Your thoughts? Are there some things you’d do if success didn’t matter?

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