What does “success” look like to you? For some, it means earning the most money and influence possible. Others may prioritise accomplishments such as career or fame. Yet what about community, inner joy and strong relationships? Are these all mutually exclusive? In her insightful book, “Thrive”, Ariana Huffington tackles these important questions head-on, providing answers to some of life’s deepest questions.
Ariana Huffington has a unique story to ground her words. One of the co-founders of the influential Huffington Post in 2005, she originally saw success through the lens of money and power. Working regular 18-hour days and with two young daughters, it was not long until she burned out. In 2007, she eventually collapsed in her office from exhaustion and shattered her cheekbone. Doctors all agreed that the incident was due to stress from overwork. It was time for a change, to prioritise her family, health and happiness.
One key recommendation from Huffington is to take time to redefine success in your own mind. Many of us instinctively think that the more wealth, seniority (in employment) and power someone has, the more successful they are. Yet it is far better to think of success in terms of thriving. This relates to your sense of flourishing, fulfilment and inner peace.
Huffington is careful not to say that career, hard work and wealth do not matter. Rather, we are all likely to perform better in these areas if we focus on other “pillars” of success – namely, well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving. In particular, she tackles the damaging notion in Western work culture that stress, sleep deprivation and exhaustion are “badges of honour” to parade in from of others. By allowing these to take over our lives, our health – both mental and physical – often pays the price in the form of burnout, stress, depression, heart disease and poor sleep.
Huffington’s book is very practical, grounded in her personal experience as a driven career woman and mother. Her four “pillars” provide structure to aim the reader in remembering the key points, helping to guard against assuming money and power are the main indicators of success. Some of her ideas – such as engaging in staff meetings whilst hiking – are both fun and scientifically sensible (helping to keep everyone awake and engaged rather than slumping in their seats in a committee room). If there is one takeaway from “Thrive”, it is the call to better sleep. Too many people see this as a luxury rather than a necessity. Bill Clinton famously used to survive on 5 hours of sleep every night, later admitting that this was a serious mistake. To be more successful, therefore, learn to sleep better at night – possibly making up for lost time with power naps during the day.
Overall, Thrive is a great resource to help readers discover a healthier way to pursue success in their lives, even if life is not always easy. We commend this book to you!
