In my life as a TV boss, I had an abundance of power -- or that's what people thought I had. That's what they wanted to meet me for. Of course, all I had was an image of power in their heads, nothing more.
Real power is rooted somewhere much deeper: in our inner wisdom. It took me 10 years to understand this and realize that I did not feel good about my life. I didn't like being available 24/7 or pushing my team at all costs.
Nor could I totally agree with the values that commercial media was built on. Part of me was even ashamed of our content -- Big Brother, crime series based on revenge and B-list celebrities eating worms half-naked in the jungle.
The hectic mornings were the worst. I never had time to start my days with a calm mind and peace in my heart.
Now things are different. I resigned and started a business of my own with like-minded people. Now I see success more as a mental state. The better you feel, the more successful you get.
Freedom to Choose
From that perspective, success is about being free to choose your kind of life, that sense of freedom that money can't buy. When you know who you are, you make better decisions for both yourself and others. It means acting in congruence with your values. You do what you believe is right.
The Dalai Lama has said, "The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind."
Shift in Values
One way to understand this is Arianna Huffington's Third Metric, the new definition of success that she describes in her new book Thrive.
Success de facto is something beyond money and power. It's about feeling good, giving back generously and having enough time to look at the wonders of life. It means having a life to live.
Shouldn't we include these attributes in the new definition of success?
Abundance Within
More than anything, success is abundance -- not physical or material abundance but abundance within.
There are endless resources inside ourselves: inner wisdom, abilities to value others and voids of gratitude. The more we can enhance these dimensions in our lives, the more deeply successful we get.
However, most of us need guides and tools to get there. This encouraged us to create our company, New.me. It is our mission to give the world inspiration and tools for personal growth.
There's a quotation that's widely attributed to Aristotle: "Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation."
It's the place where this happens is hidden in the moments we have -- moments of meaning and purpose, moments of being part of something bigger, moments of creating something sustainable and beautiful together.
A better world, for example.