What is success?

Submitted by Suraya Dewing on Friday 20 October 2017

I have just returned from a trip to Edutech 2017/Work 2.0 in Johannesburg, South Africa. I will never forget the amazing skies in the late afternoon. They were moody, electric with rolling thunder and lightning and forever changing hue. I had never seen anything like them before.

The trip entailed a 30-hour flight from New Zealand to South Africa and back. It was worth every cramped, economy class hour.

Soon after I returned I opened a posting on Linked In by psychologist Dr. Travis Bradbury,  Nine Signs you’re successful even if it don’t feel like it, the timing was perfect.

He makes several points on what success is but this one stood out for me because I had just been to Edutech Africa 2017/Work 2.0 and it had took me well out of my comfort zone.

Successful people stay positive and know that failure is not forever. They keep life in perspective and are never too proud to ask for help when they need it. None of us know all there is to know about a situation or a subject so there is nothing to lose by admitting this and asking for help to fill the gaps.

The results of our presence at Edutech/Work 2.0 were well worth the effort. Here are just three key reasons.

  1. I was supported by the most incredible team who made sure Stylefit was presented as a professional organisation that had a very clear message and mission
  2. The importance of the message I carried became very clear as I talked to influential people in the Edutech and professional worlds.
  3. My knowledge, understanding and insight of our position in a global world became clear.

These insights left me feeling greatly humbled. Stylefit is an enabler, and I feel what a privilege it is to be part of a system that builds writers confidence.

We are an emerging company and we are just out of the fledgling phase of being a start-up. There was/is not a dollar to spare. Yet because of the skills of the people who got behind us we were able to hold our heads high next to Samsung,  Via Africa (Africa’s leading education provider), Macmillan’s Educational Publishers and many more. I will be forever grateful to the people who got behind me and made sure our presence at this Edutech/Work 2.0 was professional.

The Edutech/Work 2.0 was a lot like going on a survival course. There were several firsts in this experience. I had never travelled that distance alone. I had never been to Africa and I had never attended a tradeshow. There were other ‘firsts’ but these ones were key. It was an amazing experience and it left me feeling humbled and elated. I had dared to leave the safety of the familiar and embarked on a journey into the unknown and I returned a stronger, more self-reliant person.  Self-discovery is also an important part of success.

 

Comments

Submitted by Ray Stone on Fri, 2017-10-20 18:33
A worthwhile journey, as you say, like the long journey The Story Mint has been on for several years. That in itself has been a success - that we have survived and are still producing material from writers who otherwise would never have picked up a pen. And on the interest shown by industry, corporate business, and the education sector. Think how many people we have helped and educated in all those fields. You are right, as long as we have the support of so many good people volunteering their hard work, we are and will remain a success. As you have often said, the finance will eventually be there. Bradbury's advice is crucial and we have proved him right. After five years we cannot say we have failed if we continue to advance. We are a great success no matter what.
Submitted by Suraya Dewing on Tue, 2017-11-07 14:49
Thanks Ray. Those are good points you make.