The Evolving Benchmarks of Success

[Joshua Michael Hauman]

Throughout history, the metrics that define success have evolved to reflect the values and priorities of each era. The human experience parallels this trajectory as it plays out on a smaller scale throughout our lifespan.

The Past

Going back to the early days of formalized education, our report cards were the preeminent measuring stick used to determine our success. Beginning in childhood, our grades in school subjects represented how well we were learning, as well as our work ethic and natural abilities. Academic performance was the yardstick that determined the quality and variety of opportunities down the road. Report cards serve as a measure of demand for what colleges would accept us.

Good grades, high demand.

Poor school performance often puts the concept of securing a stable, respectable career in the balance. Our report cards drove our self-worth and shaped how others perceived our potential. In the past and early in one’s life, academic focus was and is the preeminent metric of success.

The Present

In society today and as one grows throughout life, although academic achievement still matters, the main benchmark for success is financial prosperity. Our net worth and credit score are seen as reflections of our work ethic and ability. In the current state of humanity, many define success predominantly by entrepreneurship, property ownership, business profitability, and the ability to accumulate wealth. These metrics become part of your financial statement and communicate our status in society. Books like Rich Dad Poor Dad have emphasized the fact that bankers don’t ask for your grades, they want to see your financial statement, your financial report card. Your PFS, Personal Financial Statement, becomes the new most important scorecard and is the driving force behind social mobility and stability.

The Future

Looking forward, as new generations focus more on social media and cultivating an influential personal brand, our online presence and cultural sway will eclipse the PFS as the indicator of success. Rather than tangible wealth, our following, likes, and subscribers will signal our societal value, power and influence. Media platforms like YouTube and Instagram will probably become even more dominant, and the size and engagement of our digital audience may soon be the most coveted marker of achievement. The financial statement will become secondary to the digital scorecard. Those who can build a brand with reach and impact will be considered the influencers and thought leaders of the future.

Ultimately, It's About Generating Demand

It seems to me that over time, the main metric of success has evolved to represent whatever asset creates demand for our skills or products in that era. In the past, good grades showcased our academic abilities, which generated demand for our talents in the job market. Today, our financial statement displays our business acumen and earns us opportunities. In the future, a strong media influence will display our reputation and allow us to promote our work. As times change, the markers of achievement change, but they consistently revolve around communicating cultural value in order to drive demand.

The past belonged to academics.

The present belongs to the financially savvy.

The future belongs to the communicators.

With Discipline,

Josh