The secret of success in every field is redefining what success

Hear, O seeker, the voice of RuPaul, who spoke with the clarity of one who has walked the difficult road of self-discovery: “The secret of success in every field is redefining what success means to you. It can't be your parent's definition, the media's definition, or your neighbor's definition. Otherwise, success will never satisfy you.” These words, though shaped in our own time, ring with the sound of ancient wisdom. They remind us that no crown, no applause, no inheritance is enough if it does not answer the call of your own soul.

For what is success if it is not defined by the heart? Many toil for riches, yet find emptiness when gold fills their hands. Many labor for recognition, yet feel hollow when the applause fades. If you wear a crown that was fashioned by another, it will always rest uneasily upon your head. RuPaul teaches that one must claim the sacred right to define success not by the voices of parents, not by the clamors of the crowd, not by the shadow of the neighbor, but by the whisper of one’s own spirit.

The ancients themselves knew this truth. Consider Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, who, though draped in purple and wielding power over millions, turned inward and wrote in his Meditations: “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself.” For though the world called him supreme ruler, he did not measure his success by conquests or wealth, but by living in accord with virtue. Here we see the echo of RuPaul’s teaching: without defining success for oneself, the gifts of the world become burdens rather than blessings.

Look also to the tale of Vincent van Gogh. By the world’s standards, he was a failure in life—poor, often ill, unrecognized, with only a handful of paintings sold. Yet his definition of success was not bound to wealth or applause, but to the pursuit of truth and beauty upon the canvas. Though he died unknown, his soul was fulfilled by the act of painting. And now the world, centuries later, acknowledges the greatness that sprang from his private definition. Had he sought only his neighbor’s approval, his hand might have been stilled, and the world would have been poorer for it.

In these examples lies the heart of the matter: if you live by another’s measure, satisfaction will escape you. If you chase after the media’s definition, you will always hunger for more fame. If you bow to your parents’ definition, you may achieve what they desired, yet feel estranged from yourself. If you mimic your neighbor’s definition, you will spend your days in rivalry, never in peace. But if you define success as remaining true to your own calling—whether that calling be art, service, family, knowledge, or quiet joy—then even in small victories, you will taste fulfillment.

Thus, O children of the future, let this be your practice: each day, ask yourself, “What does success mean to me?” Write it down, live by it, refine it as your heart grows. Let your definition evolve with wisdom, but let it always be your own. Then, pursue it with courage, for it is better to walk the hard path toward your true calling than to run swiftly down the easy road to another’s dream.

Remember always RuPaul’s words: success must be your own creation. Like a garment tailored to your body, it must fit your spirit, not another’s. Wear it proudly, walk in it boldly, and know that when your life draws to its close, you will not look back with regret, but with peace—for you lived by the truth of your own measure.