Just how does a Saudi identify success? Do we distinguish personal success any differently from others around the world, or are we essentially similar creatures from the same mold? I had asked a cross-section of Saudis for their views on success and with a little bit of editing this is what they had to say:
From May, a concepts designer: "Success is when I look on the faces of my loved ones and they are happy and content. When my son looks at me with a smile in his eyes; when the last thing on my task list is scratched off. Success is conquering my fears and watching my business concepts unfold to reality."
Jumbo Ahmed says: "Success is to put a smile to your loved ones; to create something useful to your community; and get all what you have dreamt of. To win everyone's heart is pure success."
From Muhanna in Jeddah: "Success in short means living my daily life very happily and full of joy regardless; if I can achieve that then I would call it success."
From Balqees, a university researcher: "I distinguish success when my country will have a proper sewage system, when I can walk freely and feel that no one is going to attack me. When men and women can meet on a civilized basis in society without being harassed. Success is our will to protect our future generation from drugs or lack of discipline and responsibility. When the man of the family stands by his mother, sister or wife as a protector; when the poor are well fed, and when my country is safe from the likes of hypocrites and terrorists, that to me is success."
From Ribhi: "Success is success, whether you are Saudi or Japanese! Isn't it about achieving the goals that you set for yourself? I think if I succeed in raising good kids, provide them with a roof over their head, food on the table, clothes to cover them, good health and education, have a great supportive wife, then I'm successful."
From Maha in Riyadh: "I consider success when as an individual I am well rounded, feeling a strong connection to and peace with God; I am a loving child, sibling, spouse, and parent, and in return receive love from my family. When my quality of work is among the best in the field, one who is proficient in and regularly enjoys some or many forms of the arts and humanities, who regularly volunteers their time to help the needy, maintain their physical health and engages in sports. Someone about whom everyone has nothing but good to say, while on earth, and after their death."
From Obaid, a banker: "From my point of view, success is when a person sets a target or a goal that he/she wants to reach or achieve, regardless of the time frame, or initial intention and at the end of the road this person gets what he/she wants."
From Leila, a Saudi in Dubai: "I measure success by the level of content and pride held by those nearest and dearest to me toward me. I am only successful if by what I do I add value to humanity. I do not necessarily consider monetary gains as a sign of success, as any person (good willed or not) can obtain that in some form or another. Success is also knowing you have used all your capacity to better yourself in all aspects of life."
Yaseen, a capitalist says: "Success is to achieve what we planned to do", while Yousuf from Dammam defines it as "fulfilling a mission and feeling good about it." Thurayya, in Dhahran adds: "Success is feeling that you have done to your own utmost personal satisfaction something that you wanted to do."
From Majed, an entrepreneur: "Success is relative. One can measure himself against his own goals, and if he has accomplished all or at least most of them, then he may consider himself a success...I feel that this is a healthy way for us to measure success as it helps us put goals for ourselves and not for others to judge us."
From Hadeel, a writer: "As a Saudi woman, success is when you can do a good deed, and feel proud about it, even though it will not get any public recognition. As a Saudi mother, success is bringing up my four boys to be compassionate human beings who know the true meaning of responsibility and consequence. Helping each one of them find his own unique inner gift to the world, benefiting himself, those in his life and his hereafter. As a Saudi writer, success is leaving my imprint on the literary world; it would be wonderful having my words immortalized way after I am gone."
Ismail writes: "Success is achieving goals by following ethically acceptable methods. That's how I see it, Tariq; I rate it usually with the ratio of achieved to desired results. I do not believe in succeeding by using unethical or unacceptable practices."
Lena adds: "Success to me is to be able to fulfill my passions in life. Anything that I enjoy regardless of whether it is 'politically (socially) correct' or not. I look at success in a much personal and higher level (as a Libra). I think I associate success with being a 'pioneer', which would be the highest level of success. To do something no one has ever been able to do for the cause of humanity is a breakthrough in success."
Kasem, a stock broker volunteers: "Success to me means achieving one's goals and objectives. It is a matter of degree. I believe a person gets a sense of elation and/or satisfaction when he completes his goals. His achievement is a success to him and in the eyes of his peers."
From Rana, a medic at a private hospital: "To be happy, to be content! You cannot get more successful than that! The world today suffers enough from people who are miserable and unsatisfied! That's what success means to me!"
And finally one from Ahmad, a businessman in Riyadh:
"There is a saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that translates as follows: When a human being dies his contribution ends except for three: Ongoing charity, knowledge that benefits humanity and righteous children that pray for him. Given that life is a journey, I would measure success by these three yardsticks.
One succeeds if one raises children that continue to contribute to the advancement of humanity. We succeed if we create wealth and dedicate a good part of it to helping the needy and we succeed if we contribute to the pool of human knowledge."
By Tariq A. Al-Maeena
© Arab News 2006
