An editor for a success magazine wanted to know my views on success. Here is what I wrote back:
Most people think success is a goal. I do not. I see success as a process. Most people define success only in terms of money. I do not. I think success is a combination of things -- health, happiness, material prosperity, love of family and friends, wisdom, influence, and fulfillment.
Here is how I know someone is successful -- If you are able to give from your abundance then you are successful. If you are able to donate money, spread happiness, inspire health, propagate love, share knowledge, motivate people, etc. then you are successful.
Most people think you need to work hard to achieve success. I do not think that is true. I believe the opposite is true. I believe you have to learn how to avoid work to be successful. I define work this way -- if you'd rather be doing something else, then you are working.
You avoid work by loving what you do. Loving what you do is infinitely more powerful in achieving success than all the hard work in the world. If you love what you do, Nature will show you her secrets. When Nature reveals her secrets to you, you have the golden key to being successful. Those secrets are the formulas for working less yet accomplishing more. For example, you can strain your muscles working hard to move a big rock or you can use one of Nature's secrets and use a lever. When you use a lever you work much less but you accomplish much more.
People who say they work hard are really saying they are not smart enough or creative enough or lucky enough to have found an easier, more effective way to accomplish what they want. Hard work is not the answer. Finding an easier, more effective solution is the answer. To find the easier solution, you need to be alert for a lazier way. People who work hard don't have the time or the energy or inclination to find that easier way.
译文:
成功的定义
一份成功学杂志的编辑曾经问过我对成功的看法。以下就是我的回复：
大多数人认为成功是一个目标，但我不认为。我把成功看作是过程。大多数人用金钱来定义成功，我不能苟同。我认为成功是许多东西的结合—健康、幸福、物质财富、对朋友家人的爱、智慧、影响力和成就感。
这是我对一个成功的人的定义—如果你能把自己的富余给予他人那么你是成功的。如果你能够捐献金钱、传递幸福、获得健康、播撒爱心、分享知识、激励他人等，那么你是成功的。
大多数人认为你需要努力工作以获得成功，我并不这样认为。我的看法恰恰与之相反。我认为你必须学习如何避免工作来获得成功。我如此定义工作—如果你宁愿自己正在做别的事情，那么你正在工作。
你避免工作，热爱自己正在做的事。说到获得成功，热爱你所做的事无疑比任何辛勤的劳作都来得有用。如果你热爱自己的事业，那么自然会向你展示她的秘密。那些秘密就是少工作多获得的秘方。比如你能锻炼肌肉辛勤劳作来搬一块巨石，或者你也能运用自然的秘密法则—使用杠杆。当你使用杠杆的时候你花的力气小了但是却获得了更多。
那些声称自己正努力工作的人实际上在说他们不够聪明，不够有创造力或者不够幸运发现一种更简单更有效率实现目标的方法。努力工作不是终极答案。找到一种更简单更有效率得方法才是答案。要找到更简单的方法，你需要留神着发现一种更“慵懒”的方式。那些努力工作的人们没时间没精力或者没意愿找到那种简便的方式。