Two Categories of Success

I've been thinking about success, and it seems as if there are two types of successful people (as far as I can see right now). There is the group who work ridiculously hard, and every bit of prosperity for them has come at a price. This group of people seem to understand only one formula: working their way up. The extremes in this category also seem to refuse the "freebies" life offers--believing that any prosperity must come from some kind of difficult effort (of course this occurs unconsciously).

The other group looks at success differently. While not opposed to hard work, their actions seem to propel them forward at lighting speed. They move to the top in a fluid motion of ease. And the difference here is interesting. While the first group may reach a salary in the six digits, the second is making millions or more. When this group works it's not a drudgery, but something that can be fun and easy.

Lets look at one example: Last Fall a writer came to CSULB for a reading of her just published book of short stories. The reading was interesting. She told us she had spent ten years working on her first novel, which she could not get published (ten years without getting paid!) The book which had been published started as a writing exercise to get to know the characters of the first novel.

Yes, I'm about to sort of bash her--but before I do, let me say her writing is amazingly sharp.

She shared a little bit about the writing process of her short stories, and apparently she sometimes spent weeks on one single sentence. What?!

You may be thinking, this is all well and good. Her ten years of work were not entirely futile since it led to the writing exercise which ended up being a success. And I get that sometimes things work out differently than expected. But ten years!? And weeks for one sentence! You only get one life everyone.

I walked out of there thinking, I never want to be a writer, ever.

But now I realize the distinction in groups of successful individuals. This writer, while finally successful, belongs in the first group: She had to work hard, and felt as if that struggle was absolutely necessary.

I don't know about you, but I like the sounds of the second group much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of a little hard work, and those of you who know me know I certainly do not shy away from giving something my all.

I see success as something which should come fluidly and naturally. I want to enjoy all the "work" necessary to get there. And I think I can see that happening.