“The journey of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”— Marcel Proust
If you talk to enough people about leadership, purpose, or growth, the question of success inevitably arises.
It’s one of those words we all use, but rarely define.
When I lecture on leadership and performance, I often get asked why I speak so much about success, especially given that my banking background. The answer is simple: you can’t talk about leadership without confronting how people define where they’re going, and why. And success, whether we name it or not, is the compass we use to chart our path.
But here’s the catch: most people inherit a definition of success they never question.
My First Definition of Success
Like many, I grew up believing that success meant climbing to the top, becoming the organization’ president, earning a good income and gaining recognition. This was the version of success handed to me by my parents and reinforced by society.
And by that measure, I succeeded. At 40, I became Chairman and CEO of the largest bank in Romania and gained public visibility. Later, in the private sector, I gained financial independence. By conventional standards, that was it, I had made it.
But in 1994, when the government removed me from that position and had to start again, building a bank from scratch, I learned something I hadn’t expected:
Success isn’t a destination. It’s a journey.
Title, position, and stability can all vanish overnight. What remains is who you are, what you believe, and whether what you’re building has depth.
Seeing with New Eyes
Over time, and with more experience, I rethought what success meant. With age and (I hope) wisdom, I began to see that success isn’t about reaching a point. It’s about how we grow along the way, what we contribute, and how we define a meaningful life.
It’s not that money, fame, and achievement don’t matter. But as we mature, our perspective shifts. We begin to look more closely at the source of our ambitions. Are they truly ours? Or borrowed from someone else’s story?
That’s when the definition of success begins to evolve.
The Lecture Exercise: Four Questions
When I speak to young professionals or students, I often run a short exercise to illustrate how complex this topic is. I ask four simple, but revealing questions:
- Who wants to be as rich as Bill Gates?
- Who wants to be as famous as Angelina Jolie?
- Who wants to be president of a bank like me? (This usually gets polite hands raised.)
- Who wants to be as successful as Micu Florea?
Regarding the first three questions, I tell young people that if wealth, fame, or position are their only benchmarks for success in life, I’m afraid they’re likely to experience major disappointments, because, statistically, less than 5% of a country’s population will ever attain them. I have no intention of discouraging anyone from aspiring to those things, but does the fact that 95% won’t achieve them mean they can’t be successful?
As expected, the last name always draws blank stares. And that’s the point.
Meet Micu Florea: My Definition of Success in Action
No one in the room has ever heard of Micu Florea, because he’s not a celebrity.
He’s my barber.
He’s been cutting my hair for over 56 years, since I first moved to Bucharest for university. He’s now 80 years old and works twice weekly for a loyal client circle. And in my view, he’s one of the most successful people I know.
Here’s why:
- He found his vocation. He’s not just a barber; he’s an artist of his craft.
- He maximized his potential. He trained continuously, earned every qualification in his field, and competed locally and internationally.
- He grew in influence. Early on, he became a unit manager and mentored many others.
- He gave back. He taught at a vocational school, helping others find their path.
By most conventional standards, his life might appear “modest.”
But, it’s a masterclass in purpose, growth, and quiet leadership.
A Four-Part Definition of Success
Over time, I’ve distilled my definition of success into four elements:
- Vocation – discovering your purpose, based on what makes you unique.
- Potential – learning, developing, and making the most of your talents.
- Influence – creating value, contributing to others, and gaining recognition.
- Contribution – helping others grow in all of the above.
Success isn’t one-dimensional. It doesn’t live only in the office or the bank account. It’s just as much about relationships, fulfillment, health, and well-being.
After all, can someone truly be considered “successful” if they live without joy, purpose, or connection?
The Leadership Connection
In this blog series, we will talk a lot about leadership.
But here’s the truth: you can’t lead others if you don’t know what success means to you.
And you certainly can’t help others grow if you’ve never reflected on your definition of growth.
That’s why success matters, not as a trophy, but as a personal compass.
Questions for Reflection
As always, I’ll leave you with a few questions:
- What is your definition of success?
- Have you reached it, by your standards? By mine?
- If not, what would you need to change, start, or let go of to move closer to it?
✦ Take your reflection deeper with 10 practical questions you can work through on your own or with your team.
📄 Download The Chairman’s Playbook Worksheet — Play 01: What Is Success?
Coming Up Next
In the next few posts, I’ll explore each of the four elements of success, starting with vocation. How do we find our purpose? And what if we haven’t yet?
Until then, keep your definition of success close, and let it evolve as you do.
📚 Further Reading:
- Viktor E. Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning
A powerful reminder that success without purpose is empty. - Stephen R. Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
A classic framework for building a meaningful, effective life. - Carol S. Dweck – Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
How shifting to a growth mindset changes the way we define and pursue success. - James Clear – Atomic Habits
Practical steps for building the small habits that compound into real achievement. - Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers: The Story of Success
Examines the hidden factors—opportunity, culture, timing—that shape extraordinary achievement.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link in this post and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep The Chairman’s Playbook going, and I’m grateful for it.
Leave a Reply