How do you measure success?

How do you know when you’ve truly succeeded? What principles do you use to measure it? Is it financial freedom? Career growth? The impact you create for others? The truth is, each of us defines success differently—and that definition shifts with time and context.

When I was younger, my idea of success was disposable. It had clear boundaries: moving to Sydney, working for a global company, earning a promotion. But every milestone left me asking the same question: “Now what?”

Humans are wired to keep moving forward. What feels like a big success today may feel ordinary tomorrow. Sometimes I think the unhappiest people might be those who achieve everything they set out to—because they’re left with nothing more to chase.

The escape routes vary. Some raise the bar so high they’ll never reach it in one lifetime—like moving humanity to Mars. For me, at this stage of life, I’ve shifted to what I call a recyclable measure of success. One I can use again and again, every single day.

My measure of success is sleep. A successful life, to me, is one where I can sleep peacefully.

To sleep well each night, I need to balance my days with care, nurture my relationships, manage my wealth and health wisely, and guard myself against the ego-driven traps of anger, envy, and unhelpful comparison. All of this creates a lighter heart. And with a light heart, I sleep well.

That, to me, is success.