Success, as wisely stated by Earl Nightingale, is the progressive realization of values. A definition that, in its simplicity, encompasses a depth often overlooked. Among the many ideals that an individual can and must pursue, there is one that stands above all others, a pillar without which every other achievement risks being ephemeral or, worse, illusory: Freedom.
This perspective leads us to an inevitable conclusion, and for many, an uncomfortable one: we cannot consider ourselves truly successful people if our existence is confined, if we do not enjoy a level of freedom that allows us to grow and prosper authentically. Because, after all, isn't the intrinsic interest in growing and prospering perhaps the aspect that most distinctly separates human life from that of animals? The search for continuous improvement, the ability to shape one's own destiny and that of one's environment, are distinctive traits of our species.
And yet, in a world that boasts of progress and opportunity, the harsh reality is that the percentage of individuals who can truly call themselves free is shockingly low, estimated at less than 10% of the world population.
A piece of data that should make us reflect on the true nature of our socio-economic system.
These few chosen ones, in my opinion, divide into three well-defined macro-categories:
- Sports and entertainment celebrities: Idolatrated figures, often with enormous media influence and considerable wealth.
- Leaders of all countries in the world and governors: Those who hold the reins of political and economic power, with the ability to influence the lives of millions.
- Big entrepreneurs and big investors: The architects of the market, the creators of companies, products, and services that drive the global economy.
All together, they form the millionaire and affluent elite of our time. But this is where a fundamental distinction comes into play, an ethical and functional dividing line that is often ignored or deliberately obscured.
The first two groups, although admired and powerful, often thrive on fertile ground of misery and suffering of others. Celebrities, with their ability to distract and entertain, can unintentionally contribute to a system that offers escapes rather than solutions to the real problems of people. Isn't it true that their rise is often fueled by a need for mass escapism, which diverts attention from daily challenges?
Leaders and governors, on the other hand, hold power that, if not exercised with the utmost integrity and foresight, can easily degenerate into control, oppression or maintenance of a status quo that favors few at the expense of many. Their decisions often create or perpetuate conditions of dependence and limitation for the majority.
Third parties, instead, the great entrepreneurs and enlightened investors, are those who create the conditions for everyone, no one excluded, to always be better off. They are the true engines of progress, those who with their vision, their risk and their ability to innovate, generate real value, jobs, new opportunities and solutions to problems. Isn't entrepreneurship the true fulcrum of widespread prosperity, the only way for a tangible improvement in the human condition? They do not simply benefit from an existing system, but transform it, expand it, make it more inclusive and productive.
True success, therefore, is not just the accumulation of wealth or power. It is the freedom to act to create value, the ability to prosper in a way that elevates not only oneself but the entire community. Should we really continue to admire equally those who benefit from misfortune and those who instead strive to build a better future for all?
In my opinion, the answer is clear and straightforward: authentic success is intrinsically linked to the ability to unleash human potential, not to confine it.