The Island’s True Measure of Success

I remember a conversation I had with one of the elders on the island years ago, a wise fisherman named Samuel. I had just opened a small beachfront shop selling local crafts and healthy snacks, and like many young entrepreneurs, I was obsessed with making it "big." I had all these dreams of expanding, getting my products off the island, building an online brand—things that, at the time, felt like the ultimate measure of success. I was chasing numbers, followers, and recognition. I was consumed by the idea that success was out there, somewhere, waiting for me if I just pushed hard enough.

One evening, Samuel saw me pacing outside my shop, frustrated by a slow day. The sun was setting, and the sky was awash with brilliant pinks and oranges, the kind of sunset that reminds you just how lucky you are to be on the island. Samuel sat on a bench nearby, peeling a mango with the calmness of someone who had lived through it all. He waved me over, and I reluctantly took a seat beside him.

"What's got you in such a rush, Lucas?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the mango.

I told him about my ambitions, how I wanted to grow my business, make more money, and achieve what I thought success looked like.

Samuel chuckled softly and looked out at the sea. "On this island," he said, "we measure success differently. It's not about how much you have, but how well you live."

That line stopped me in my tracks. I was so focused on growth, on making my business bigger, that I hadn't taken a moment to appreciate the life I was already living. Samuel went on to explain that success isn’t a bank account full of money or control over others. Success is waking up every morning with a sense of purpose, finding joy in the small things—the taste of fresh fruit, the sound of the waves, a good conversation with a neighbor.

On the island, he said, people find success by living in harmony with nature, by being part of a close-knit community, and by staying present in their own lives. I realized in that moment that while I was chasing some external idea of success, I was missing the real thing happening around me every single day. The sound of the ocean at dawn, the laughter of children playing by the shore, the warmth of the sun on my skin. These were the things that truly mattered.

From that day on, I shifted my focus. Instead of worrying about how to make more, I started paying attention to how I lived. I spent more time connecting with people, joining in community activities, and finding joy in the simple pleasures of island life. I learned to slow down, to breathe deeper, and to appreciate the beauty in the everyday.

The island teaches us that success isn’t about material goods or social status. It’s about being present, feeling fulfilled, and knowing that you are enough just as you are. It’s about living with purpose, connecting with nature, and realizing that happiness comes from within, not from what we own. True success, I learned, is simple. And it was right in front of me all along.

Samuel passed away a few years ago, but his words have stuck with me ever since. Whenever I find myself getting caught up in the rush of things, I think back to that evening by the sea, to the wisdom of the island, and I remember what success really means. 🌴