How do you define success? Even ancient Greek philosophers were concerned with this question. Most of us mistakenly associate success only with money and power, or the so-called first two success metrics.

The Western work culture driven by constant burnout, stress, and sleep issues actively promotes such success values. This idea can work only from the short-term perspective. However, in the long term, you understand these two metrics aren’t enough to feel satisfied. Your success isn’t measured only by how much money you earn or how big your house is.

Such a destructive approach leads to serious health issues, and what’s even scarier is that it becomes viral. According to statistics, over thirty percent of the population in the USA and the UK experience a lack of sleep that reduces emotional intelligence, interpersonal relations, empathy towards others, and other crucial things in our lives.

Also, it affects the stress level of those who haven’t worked yet or have just begun. American Psychologist Association’s research found that millennials are at the top of the stress levels chart. So, the need for redefining success is urgent. How can we do that? The Third Metric of success goes beyond the first two and includes four key elements: well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving.

Together, they help a person thrive. Thriving allows us to live the lives we truly want and deserve without harm to our health and well-being. In this definition of success, increasing our financial or authority capital is not enough. There is such a thing as our human capital, which we should nurture.

Changing the deeply ingrained habits and cultural norms we grew up with will not be easy. But mastering thriving and making Third Metric principles part of our lives will help us to reconnect with ourselves and achieve true success.