I was proposed a question late spring of this year and recently it has been making a huge impact on my life. So I feel the need to write about this question, not only for my personal benefit and the fact that I love to write, but also for you because I think it is a great question to really focus on and put into a new perspective.
The Question:
“What is the difference between greatness and success?”
Before I start pouring out my thoughts, I want you to think about this question. And I mean really think. It took me multiple car rides alone, some personal experiences and half a year to really understand this question thoroughly. So by any means—If you need more time to think about the question, take as long as you need. This blog post will forever stay online and you can come back when you know your views and opinions on it.
But anyways, now I will tell you as best as I can about what the difference is.
GREATNESS vs. SUCCESS
Honestly, I have been back and forth on if there actually is a difference? I mean, they are both so similar in so many ways. At times it seemed that when there is greatness, there is success. But then other incidents I have came across this past year made me second guess that idea. And when time came down to choosing the conclusion for this question, I know this may not be what you expected but…
I think that there is no difference.
And here is why:
These two words are extremely powerful in today’s society.
great•ness / ˈɡrātnəs/ (noun): the quality of being great, distinguished or eminent
success /suh k-ses/ (noun):the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one’s goals; the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like
But our problem is that we tend to only associate these two words with something that is recognized or acknowledged.
Here is what I mean by that-
So there is a girl in high school that doesn’t dress like the other girls in her class, ever. She wears basketball shorts and tshirts every day. She dresses how she wants to dress. But yet at this high school, she gets made fun of for “dressing like a boy” to her face and behind her back. Does it get under her skin and eat her up inside? Yup. Does she do anything about it? Absolutely not because she knows that it is a battle she will never win. In this story, was there any sort of greatness or success that could be accounted for? After first glance, no not really. It is just a sad story of a girl not sticking up for herself from high school bullies. But then think about it again… She did achieve greatness and she was successful.
“Being different isn’t a bad thing. It means you’re brave enough to be yourself.”
Her greatness was and is in the fact that she was different. Doesn’t it take a great amount of greatness to go against what society wants you to do? Everybody tries so hard to fit in, when in reality… It is better to stand out. There is only ONE you. You are the only one who likes everything you like. You are unique, so wouldn’t you say she achieved greatness, just it was unnoticeable? And then the word success comes to play in this as well. I mean I am comparing the two words. I think she was successful for well the exact same thing that she showed greatness on. She didn’t stoop down to the level of those haters. She took the high road and became a stronger person from this experience today.
There are plenty of examples that really show greatness and success but often deceived as just another boring life story. I personally think that in life, so much of us are worried about things that do not matter in the long run. Granted I believe that the little things are extremely important. The little things are what make the whole big. But that is not what I am referring to when I say we worry about the things that don’t matter- We worry about our success story to a point it is all we can think about.
Here is what I mean by “we worry about our success story” :
I am guilty of this and I will share my story. I grew up in a small house. I still have a small house to call home. It was built in the 1940’s and so it isn’t new or spacious. I never wanted to have people over at my house because I was worried about what they thought of me based upon the size of my house. I would always dream of building and designing my dream home having it be extravagant and better than the neighbors. Have all of the latest technology, the coolest furniture, you name it.. I wanted it in my house. I wanted to have a Pinterest house. But are you catching on to what the problem with that is?! I was worried about the success story that the people around me would see. I had a friend tell me that when he was in Europe, he stayed in a house that had just the necessities, nothing much more. But in that household, could you guess how much love and support was there? I would say a lot more than a dysfunctional family trying to impress the rest.
Recently, I have read the book Endure: The Athlete’s Guide to Faith, Hope, and Success which has many great points and I really advise reading it- regardless if you are an athlete or not. It is the type of book that inspires you to read the bible more and to get closer with God. Anyways, at the end of this book, there is 100+ pages of athletes success stories. Some of these stories have really positive endings, others not so much and you feel for them. But each individual in that book had greatness within them and had success.
One story that really stuck out to me and related to a life story of my own was a soccer player who was at the peak of his performance and all of a sudden, it all changed.
A little background of this player:
- He was 18 years old, playing for Toronto (Canada) Football Club academy
- Was the top player of his team
- Had a full ride at Oral Roberts University for the next year
It was the last exhibition game of the season and he ended up dislocating his shoulder to the point he had to go to the emergency room right away. During the recovery process, he ended up taking his rehab very seriously but he had many doubts. He was also extremely upset for not being able to travel to different parts to play soccer. He felt like he had nobody there for him. No friends, no family, no love of his life- soccer. He went in depression, in simple terms. He started to blame God about the injury, he lost faith in the man above. He was upset that God would take something that made him so happy away from him in just a single moment. After that, it was his freshman year at Oral Roberts and he was not playing how he was prior to the injury. He stated that his freshman soccer career was a complete waste. But then, after that season, his perspective on how he was living life completely changed. He was motivated to work harder, he restored his faith with God and things finally fell into place.
So when was he great? When he was the top player of his team? When he received a full ride to a Division 1 college?
God created you in his image. He has a plan for you.
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
And trust me, God created each one of us to be great. He has a plan for you and it involves multiple successful moments along with the greatness that comes along with it. But there will be bad moments, similar to the athlete’s story, but don’t get the idea stuck in your head that you will not be successful from one failure, or setback.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3
And last but not least.. my absolute favorite quote of greatness used in the movie She’s the Man:
“Do not be afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
So when it comes down to it, what’s the difference?
hunterrmathieu 