High income does not guarantee success.

The statement above may be somewhat provocative, but it is one that people often fail to realize. For all too many, financial success is equated with success. Success is, after all, what we all want: a fulfilling, happy life. But success has many faces, and money is only one component of it. Even the richest person cannot succeed unless he or she is also happy.

There are many ways in which a person can be successful. The social, political, physical, and economic well being of an individual are all highly important measures of success. But money can bring significant benefits to one’s life—it can improve the quality of one’s housing, food, and transportation, as well as provide money for a more comfortable retirement.

In the United States, for example, the median household income is just over $50,000, while the top ten percent earn over half of the nation’s income. Yet, there are still famous people who are homeless, starving, and without medical care. Take the late Steve Jobs. When he was alive, Jobs was one of the richest men in the world. But despite his wealth, he reportedly lived in his garage and car, did not bathe, and wore the same clothes every day. Jobs did not appear to be very ‘successful’ by any standard measure. Similarly, Bill Gates, another billionaire, is often cited as the epitome of success. Yet, Gates was unhappily married, and he and his wife have fought for years over custody of their three children. Jobs and Gates are just two examples that show that ‘success’ is a broad concept, and goes far beyond the accumulation of wealth.

Other people may indeed be successful simply because they have money. However, not everyone has the ability to earn it. Jobs and Gates, for example, are talented individuals who have been able to build huge fortunes through their own ideas and hard work. They may not be so successful in other fields, because their talents are better suited to technology and business. Other people, like the late comedian Robin Williams, are brilliant actors, but they are less financially successful. Williams made a fortune from his acting career, but having suffered from addiction, he was no longer able to sustain his lifestyle.

Many people believe that money is the be-all and end-all of success. But, even if money were the single determining factor, it would still be insufficient. A person who desires a successful life must approach it from multiple angles, and without neglecting other aspects. Success cannot be measured by one factor, but many.