Success Beyond the Horizon: Is True Achievement Measured by Its Legacy?

Is your success defined by the legacy you leave, or by the impact you have on others right now?

The idea that success is only truly successful when succeeded by a successful successor is an interesting one. It suggests that success isn't just about individual achievement but also about its lasting impact, its ability to inspire or enable future success. But is that really the case? Let’s unpack this thought and explore it from a few different angles.

Success Beyond the Horizon

The Ripple Effect of Success

Imagine you’ve achieved something meaningful. Maybe you’ve created a business, written a book, or completed a significant project. You feel the satisfaction of reaching that goal, but then, what happens next? Does it only truly count if it continues to inspire or lead to more success beyond your own?

Take Steve Jobs, for example. His vision led to the creation of Apple, but it didn’t end with his success. In fact, one might argue that Apple’s continued growth after his passing has made his legacy even more enduring. In this way, his success didn’t just live in the moment but was “succeeded” by those who carried his ideas forward.

But here’s the question: Would Jobs have seen his work as incomplete if Apple had failed to thrive after him? Or did his success reside in the moment of innovation itself, independent of future outcomes?

Defining Success Beyond the Horizon

We often define success by tangible outcomes—wealth, accolades, recognition—but what if we broaden our view to include the less visible aspects of success? Success might be in the lessons learned, the relationships built, or the personal growth experienced during the journey.

Consider someone who mentors a young person, passing along skills, wisdom, or values. Even if that mentee doesn't immediately achieve monumental success, does that diminish the mentor’s success? Or could it be that the mentor’s true success lies in the act of guiding, in the hope that the ripple effects of their influence will play out over time?

Success Beyond the Horizon

The Pressure of "Successors"

It’s tempting to believe that success must lead to success. But there’s an inherent pressure in that thinking. If we define success only through the lens of what comes next, we might overlook the value of the original achievement or the personal satisfaction that can come from simply doing something well, regardless of its long-term impact.

Think of artists who create for the sake of creation rather than for recognition or future influence. A painter, sculptor, or musician may never know if their work will “succeed” in the way we traditionally think of success. Yet, their work lives on in a different way—perhaps through the emotions it stirs, the thoughts it provokes, or the sense of fulfillment it brings to them as creators.

Success and Legacy: A Dance of Timing

Success isn’t always linear. Sometimes, what seems like a setback or a momentary failure can actually serve as the foundation for future success. Just because there isn’t immediate success—or a “successful successor”—doesn’t mean the first step wasn’t valuable or meaningful.

A writer might pen a book that doesn’t initially sell, but years later, it might find an audience and influence a new generation of thinkers. A small startup might not become the next big tech company, but its ideas and spirit could inspire future entrepreneurs.

Final Thoughts

So, is success only successful when succeeded by a successful successor? Perhaps it's more nuanced than that. True success might not lie in the immediate continuation of one's achievements but in the authentic pursuit of something meaningful. It could be in the joy of the process, the lessons learned along the way, or the moments of connection that are made.

What does success look like for you? Is it defined by what comes next, or is it enough to simply know that you’ve done something with intention and purpose? Maybe, in the end, success is a deeply personal thing—something we define not just by what others do with it, but by how we live it ourselves.

Remember, working SMARTer, not harder means focusing on creating meaningful achievements that can inspire future success, rather than just chasing immediate outcomes or pressure to leave a legacy.

Success Beyond the Horizon