Measure Up - Insights From a Motivational Speaker

How do you measure success?

For much of my life, I felt I’d failed.
High school prepared me—maybe unintentionally—for a life of comparison.
Most of my classmates were sharp, university-bound, headed for professional jobs and financial security.

I, on the other hand, left school early and found myself—poorly paid—sorting bottles in a glass factory.
Through the lens of those metrics, I wasn’t just behind… I was broken.

And here’s the thing about early beliefs: they stick.
Even as I built a rich and unconventional life, I remained quietly intimidated by people with polished resumes and professional titles.
In all honesty?
That self-doubt hung around until I was about 50 years old.

Then something changed.

I realised I’d spent decades measuring myself with the wrong ruler.
Why? Because I didn’t know there was any other way to measure.
Nobody tells you there’s more than one scoreboard.
And so, like many, I spent years running a race I didn’t even want to win.

Now, with hindsight, age, and a little wisdom on my side, my metric for success is simple:
Lack of regret.

I often feel like the richest person in the room—not because of what I’ve earned, but because of what I’ve experienced, what I’ve overcome, and what I no longer chase.
Ironically, people now envy my life journey.

If you’re under twenty and this makes sense to you, you’ve got a massive head start.
But if you’re over fifty and this resonates deeply? Then maybe it’s time to find a new metric.

Because here’s the truth:

You’ll never measure up using the wrong ruler.
And when you finally switch rulers, you’ll be surprised how tall you already are.

💬 Tag someone who’s outgrown the old ruler but hasn’t realised it yet.