Is Our Definition Of Success Inside Out?

People who leave their mark on the world seem to have an extra quality that’s often hard to quantify. It’s more than just a great plan, a great idea or how much money we had to back it.

The Wright Bros. are a fantastic example of this success.

In the early 20th century, Samuel Pierpont Langley was given $50,000 dollars by the War Department to create a flying machine. He hired the best and most educated minds of the day to create this machine. The New York Times followed his every move.

In Dayton Ohio, a few hundred miles away, Orville and Wilbur Wright were funding their machine from the proceeds of their bicycle shop, yet, on Dec. 17th 1903 the Wright Bros took to the air, and no one knew about it for a few days.

As soon as Langley heard this, he gave up on developing a flying machine and moved on to the next “best” thing.

What’s the real difference between Langley and the Wright Bros.?

Langley was looking solely at results. He was searching for fame and riches for himself. When this opportunity disappeared, so did he.

The Wright Bros. wanted to change the world with their flying machine. Bring the wonders of flight into everyone’s world. They had a sense of purpose, a belief that was far larger than them.

On a much smaller scale, I had an idea to compete with Lego. I was $100,000 in debt and facing bankruptcy.

I didn’t have a great plan, plenty of money or even a revolutionary invention, yet my BetterBlock invention went on to sell 600million blocks, generate $45m in sales and bring joy and joy into millions of households.

Why was I successful when logic says otherwise? Why were the Wright Bros. successful when logic said otherwise?

I’ve spent many years studying this very topic, and I’ve found one simple, yet very elusive factor that’s a key component behind the successes of people like the Wright Bros.

It’s: “How much of our heart and soul are we putting into what we’re doing?”

The more heart and soul we put into our projects, the more belief we have in our projects, the more belief we have in our projects, the more we are willing to do what it takes to make them successful.

I sum it up by asking people this simple question:

“What do you love doing?”

I then look to see if what they are doing is in alignment with what they would love to be doing. If not, “Then we need to work out how to gradually bring these 2 into alignment?”

The more aligned these 2 answers are, the more chance they have of being successful and probably, even more importantly, the more chance they have of having happier and more fulfilling lives.

What I’ve noticed is inner fulfilment can lead the way to great physical riches and wealth but I’ve never seen the pursuit of physical riches and wealth lead to inner fulfilment.

Which is why I say:

“A great invention comes from the outside in” – We see something – Stuff – and improve it.

“Successful inventors come from the inside out” – It’s our inner spirit, our belief, that brings our inventions to life. Happy Inventing.

With Gratitude
Warren