“How do I define success? Let me tell you, money’s pretty nice. But having a lot of money does not automatically make you a successful person. What you want is money and meaning. You want your work to be meaningful because meaning is what brings the real richness to your life.”
While money can make your life infinitely better and easier, simply having a full bank account doesn’t automatically mean that you’re successful. It may not even mean that you’re happy or fulfilled. After all, the old adage “money can’t buy happiness” exists for a reason. Money can buy you comfort and security, but if you’re looking for financial or career success, it’s also important to find a career you enjoy doing. There’s nothing quite as nice as getting paid for doing something you love.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”
As this quote suggests, sometimes changing your outlook can mean changing your entire future. For instance, if you have a financial situation that is stressing you out, changing the way you approach it may be the answer to the problem. You may have to think of a different approach to marketing your new business or tackle your mounting debt with an optimistic attitude instead of a pessimistic attitude.
“Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.”
Very few things in life come easily, and this quote is a reminder that most goals worth having are the ones you have to work hard to achieve. Financial goals are often the hardest goals to achieve, but it’s important to remember that you won’t reach them if you don’t put in some effort.
“What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only in your own life but in other people’s lives.”
Oprah reminds us that while financial success can be great for our personal lives, it also allows us to give back to family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. This can take the form of offering a loan to a friend in need or offering discount products to customers if you own a business. Achieving personal financial success is a wonderful thing, but supporting others in that same endeavor can be just as wonderful.
“You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.”
Money isn’t always everything. It’s important, of course, but this quote serves to illustrate the idea that sometimes happiness can be more beneficial to your well-being than money. As stated above, money can be important for your personal security, but it’s also important to find something you love to do regardless of whether or not it provides you with millions of dollars.
“Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.”
At some point in all our lives, failure is inevitable. But failure does not have to mean the end of the road. Having to close your business or foreclose on a home, for instance, is an awful experience to endure, but instead of dwelling on it, you should use that experience as a learning experience.
“I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.”
It’s important to know that you are the only one responsible for your fate. You may have friends and family members helping you out, but at the end of the day, you are responsible for your well being and your future. Oprah came from a difficult background and worked hard to get where she currently is, and this is a lesson most of us can take into consideration. Many of us will have to work hard to achieve personal or financial success instead of relying on someone to hand it to us.
“I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”
The term “luck” is often thrown out when people discuss financial success. However, as this quote insinuates, luck is often combined with preparation and opportunity. Or, in other words, some people’s luck is just knowing a good opportunity when they see it and be prepared to take advantage of it. Whether this is deciding to buy a home or deciding to finance a big purchase, it’s also best to be prepared and know what you want.
“Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
Sometimes, we all need to appreciate the assets and items we do have instead of trying to lust after the items we don’t own. For instance, lusting after a luxury item is all well and good, but going into debt just to buy it because you believe it will make you happy isn’t a smart decision. Wanting to improve your financial situation is great, but sometimes it’s also important to know when to stop and settle for what you currently have.
“I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.”
This quote by Oprah is perhaps one of the best lessons we can all take into consideration. For instance, when trying to start or sell a business, it’s sometimes much better to be yourself than put on a fake persona. Or, on a different note, it’s better to be true to yourself when it comes to your financial goals.
