What is success?

Success is the achievement of a worthy goal. This definition is easy enough if we will only consider the word achievement. But the phrase worthy goal makes one’s success different from others.

Let me give you examples.

My father’s worthy goal is to have at least one of his children finish college. None of my parents had a college education. One of six children is a breakthrough. He believes that it will stop the cycle of poverty in the family.

Three of us finished college.

My father’s breakthrough success is ordinary to other parents who sent their children abroad to study.

I know someone who considers living a simple life in the countryside a success. Of course, this success may not sound right for many who left provinces to find bigger opportunities in Metro Manila. But living a simple and peaceful life is success for a few.

There are those who fight their way, even kill each other, to success. Genghis Khan, his greatest achievement would be to conquer many lands. You can say the same about Alexander the Great, Hitler, and Stalin.

On the other end, you have Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mandela, and Cory Aquino who fought against Tyranny through peaceful means.

We define success based on our set of values. What we value most in life, those we desire the most and work hardest to achieve, tell us what a successful life is.

What is success to you?

Visualize Success

Before I became a professional speaker, I was just a guy with a message.

I had ideas. I had stories. I wanted to inspire people. But there was one problem—no one was inviting me to speak.

No stage. No audience. No opportunities.

I could have accepted that. I could have waited, hoping someone would see my potential. But instead, I did something else.

I visualized success.

I saw myself speaking on stage. I imagined the energy in the room, the way people leaned in, the shift in their thinking as I spoke. I felt the confidence, the impact, the applause.

And then, I started acting as if it were already happening.

↳ I prepared before the invitations came. I practiced my speeches, refined my message, and studied great speakers—even when no one was listening yet.

↳ I created my own stage. I didn’t wait for an event to find me. I spoke wherever I could—classrooms, small meetings, even one-on-one conversations.

↳ I embodied the speaker I wanted to become. I dressed like a professional speaker. I carried myself with confidence. I introduced myself as one—even before I was booked for my first big gig.

↳ I kept the vision alive. Whenever doubt crept in, I went back to the vision. I reminded myself why I started, who I wanted to serve, and the difference I wanted to make.

And then, something incredible happened.

The invitations came. The opportunities opened up. The vision I had in my mind became my reality.

Because success doesn’t start when someone else believes in you—it starts when you believe in yourself.

So, if you’re waiting for permission, stop. See it. Feel it. Act on it.

Your future starts with the vision you create today.

What Is Success as a Leader?

A young leader once asked me, “How do I know if I’m succeeding?”

I smiled. “That depends. Are you measuring it the right way?”

He frowned. “Well, I set goals, I hit targets, I get things done.”

I nodded. “That’s good. But let me ask you—are you creating impact that lasts beyond you?”

He fell silent.

Many think leadership success is about reaching personal milestones—a title, a position, or a list of accomplishments. But history tells us otherwise.

The greatest leaders aren’t remembered for what they achieved—they’re remembered for what they built, inspired, and left behind.

Take Abraham Lincoln. He didn’t just lead a country—he united a divided nation and changed the course of history. He measured success not by power, but by impact.

Look at Nelson Mandela. He didn’t just fight for his freedom—he fought for justice for all. His success wasn’t about personal wins; it was about transforming a nation’s future.

Or consider Mother Teresa. She had no title, no army, no wealth. Yet, she influenced millions because her leadership was about serving others, not herself.

True leadership success isn’t about how high you climb—it’s about how many you lift.

So, how do you measure success as a leader?

↳ By the people you develop. The best leaders don’t create followers—they create more leaders.

↳ By the problems you solve. Leadership isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about facing them, fixing them, and leaving things better than you found them.

↳ By the culture you create. Do people thrive under your leadership? Do they feel valued, empowered, and motivated to do their best?

↳ By the legacy you leave. If you stepped away today, would your impact remain? Would people carry forward what you started?

The young leader looked at me and nodded. “So success isn’t just about getting ahead—it’s about making a difference.”

I smiled. “Exactly.”

So, ask yourself: Are you just leading, or are you leading in a way that lasts?