FIRST - Being a winner, like Magic Johnson

FAME - A star or celebrity, like Meryl Streep

FORTUNE - Loaded with money, like billionnaire Bill Gates

This raises a few questions: How many of us can be number one? How many famous people can we afford to have, even if they are famous for a week, or even only a day? How many billionnaires can our economy support?

If the conventional wisdom is true, the overpowering majority of us are FAILURES. The rating for our society is 4 F.

The trouble with this concept of success is that "they" define it. Who are "they"? "They" are anybody else but YOU. Why do you - all of us, at one time or another - say "I lost the job (or opportunity) because they...................?" Or "What will they think if I do..............?" Or "I can't afford the kind of money they are spending on.............?" Fill in the blanks.

If you want to be a success - which is a way of living, not an accomplishment - forget what "they" are, say or do. Take time to examine yourself to find out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Be honest with yourself. You know what you can do and what you love to do.

Take time to paint your personal vision. Be faithful to yourself. Not to what "they" would like.

Forget about the 4 F's. BE YOURSELF!!

Paul is an Internet marketing consultant, trainer and speaker. He is the originator of the Learning Fountain: a website that influences visitors by helping them learn; see http://www.learningfountain.com. He is the moderator of LearningFOUNT, a discussion list on Business Strategy and Community Building; to subscribe, send a blank email to: subscribe@learningfountain.com. Because of his performance on the platform, he is called Paul "the soarING" Siegel.