What Is Success?

Billion dollars?

Cure for a sickness someone close to you is going through?

Amazing offer for your house?

Body you dreamed of?

Profound wisdom and knowledge?

Kids?

Raise in your job?

Less traffic?

Private jets?

Outstanding wedding you envision?

What is true happiness for you?

In different parts of my life, my achievements changed. The success I want now, is different from the success I wanted before. 

Here’s where I went wrong.

My father told me when I came to Toronto, Canada I only spoke Luganda. I did not understand English. Everytime, in junior kindergarten, when a student asked me what my name was, I said, “I don’t speak English.” I thought my father would remember the books I read, the homework I did and watching English cartoon shows. 

At the moment, that’s what success was. 

Yes, he was very happy. But he laughed about the fact that I thought my name was “I don’t speak English”. (He’s outrageously intelligent and extremely funny by the way).  

My mother told me that when I was driving for the first time, in the parking lot, she said I was looking at the hood and the doors of the car. She told me to look at the road and understand that the bus I ride, drives on the same road. I thought my mother would be very happy for me to pass my driving test. 

At the moment, that’s what success was. 

Of course she was happy. But my look of bewilderment and confusion that I didn’t understand that the dimension of my car will fit on the road, got us laughing.

In one of my early hockey tryouts, when I was the first player to do a drill and I fell and my shot completely missed the net. I was shocked and extremely happy that I made the team.

At the moment, that’s what success was.

Right before I left the changing room, my coach shook my hand and asked me who my favorite player was. I said Pavel Bure. He said that Pavel Bure falls and misses the net a lot. Everyone laughs because it’s rare.  

Looking back I totally forgot the “main thing”. 

This scene in Good Will Hunting really hits me. Robin Williams talks to Matt Damon about “Perfect For Each Other”. 

In the beginning they are laughing...

“My wife used to fart when she was nervous. She used to fart in her sleep. One night she farted so loud that she woke the dog up. She woke up and said, ‘Is that you?’.”

Then Robin Williams had a serious face...

“But she’s been dead for two years. And that’s the stuff I remember. It’s wonderful stuff. These are the things that I miss the most. Those idiosyncrasies only I know about. That’s what made her my wife. She knew all my peccadilloes… and we get to choose who we let into our weird world.” 

I thought all of those things were imperfections. 

Sometimes millionaires often have the same problems once they become a billionaire.

Sometimes kids test parents because they are… kids!

Sometimes private jets are late because of the weather.

Sometimes traffic is annoying.

Sometimes I forget... 

All the little things…

All the farts...

All the doubts...

All the falls...

All the throw ups... 

All the crying…

All the GOOD LAUGHS…

Is what makes success, successful.

Now, my success is my health and helping you. I’m very grateful for my family, doctors, teachers and you. A lot of times I thought I was going to die.

(Thinking about it makes me cry. My hands shake as I type this.)

I don’t know what your true passion is. 

What a good, great, extraordinary life is to you.

It could be right now, in two hours, tomorrow or in 2 month.

Just know…

Deep down in my heart…

I predict you will... 

Look at it. 

Take time to crystalclear it.

Work and make consistent progress at it.

Even if it is little...

Step by step. Brick by brick. Minute by minute. Recap your wins and lessons learned of the day. 

I predict you will... 
Have the courage to reach out and grab it.

(clapping my hands)

Your outlook, optimism, happiness and relationship will be phenomenal. Nothing else matters because you finally know what success is to YOU.

-Arthur