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Anita Doron

filmmaker - curator of magic unrealism,

TEDCRED 500+
TED FellowAssociateTEDx Organizer

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Wealth and power have been our conventional measures of success. What definition will better sustain us now and how can we move into it?

The other day, my mother mentioned that she hasn't accomplished anything in her life. (She's a forest and machine engineer who hasn't found a suitable job since immigrating from the Soviet Union 20 years ago) It broke my heart to hear this. We live in a world that makes people value themselves more and more singularly by their career highs and financial prowess.

The conventional model of success has proven to be destructive, separating and pitting us against each other in competition.

What would be a better definition of accomplishment for us and how could we collectively shift toward embracing this?

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Topics: behavioral economics civilization collaborative innovation consumerism economics global issues happiness social change success
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    Charles Passero

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    Jun 1 2011: In my opinion, some of the answers to this question lie in how literal we define wealth and power. If wealth can be only be attributed to those with high material value, then I believe we are in need of changed thinking. If wealth can be measured in how many people we have made a connection with in life then I think being wealthy is on a positive spin. All in all, our view of wealth and success is close to accurate. A wealthy person has probably made great connections with others and achieved in accordance with Maslow's needs. This is at least some form of success and one that not all achieve. Our view of being unique and having accomplishments feeds into this ideal of what a successful person "looks like". That said, we are definitely in need of progressive business models focused away from greed and isolation. Detracting humans from social and family life for becoming wealthy is not positive.
    Power is a very relative term, but I agree it is a major measure of success. We all view power differently which probably makes it a bad standard for much of anything. If i am charged with making power an adequate measure of success; I am defining it as power over one's own body and mind. By looking within first we can create truly powerful, innovative thinkers and emotionally intelligent communicators.

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