As gradation season approaches, many of our children and young adults are inundated with words of wisdom and presumed indispensible advice on how to achieve success. We at Homes for Heroes would like to add to that list. However, we would like to shape it with the words of Arianna Huffington, CEO of the Huffington Post.
Recently Arianna Huffington addressed Smith College graduates with a commencement speech. To no surprise, her commencement speech addressed the topic of success. In her speech, Arianna Huffington asks graduates to challenge the definition of success.
“Don’t buy society’s definition of success,” she said. “Because it’s not working for anyone. It’s not working for women, it’s not working for men, it’s not working for polar bears, it’s not working for the cicadas that are apparently about to emerge and swarm us. It’s only truly working for those who make pharmaceuticals for stress, diabetes, heart disease, sleeplessness and high blood pressure.”
Arianna Huffington goes on to add that challenging society’s definition of success is not enough. We need to redefine it. Instead of using power and wealth to define success, Arianna suggests we need to add a third metric, giving back.
“But it’s time for a third metric, beyond money and power — one founded on well-being, wisdom, our ability to wonder, and to give back. Money and power by themselves are a two legged stool — you can balance on them for a while, but eventually you’re going to topple over. And more and more people, very successful people, are toppling over. Basically, success the way we’ve defined it is no longer sustainable. It’s no longer sustainable for human beings or for societies. To live the lives we want, and not just the ones we settle for, the ones society defines as successful, we need to include the third metric”
At Homes for Heroes, we believe that it is time we start giving our students an education inclusive of well-being, wonder, and giving back. We don’t just preach this school of thought, we live it. Homes for Heroes has never measured their success on revenue or profit margins. Rather or success is measured on one simple tag line, “Good for the heart, great for the business”. That is why we have our Hero savings total rather than revenue total. That is why we advertise our affiliates success in connecting to heroes, rather than advertising our affiliates. Success is built into feeling great about what you do. 
Thank you Arianna Huffington! Not for validating our business model, we don’t need it. We see the success in it everyday. But thank you for spreading the word on a new definition of success. You are absolutely correct, our world desperately needs it.
Congratulations class of 2013!!!!
Click here to read the entire commencement speech at the Huffington Post
