Two Conversations That Changed My Life
There are certain conversations that mark a before and after in your life. Two of mine happened nearly a decade apart, but together, they helped shape the way I think about success, significance, and service.
Conversation #1 – Gary Keller (2012)
Back in 2012, I landed an interview with Gary Keller, the founder of Keller Williams Realty International. It had taken me months to get on his calendar. I came prepared with all kinds of questions, but the one that changed everything was:
“Gary, what does the word success mean to you?”
“Success is knowing what you want and getting it.”
Then he added,
“The challenge is, most people haven’t actually taken the time to clearly define what they want. If we stopped 10 people on the street and asked them, ‘What do you want?’ do you think we’d hear more specifics or generalities?”
We both knew the answer.
Most of us aren’t taught to explore life’s big questions—let alone sit with them long enough to answer clearly. That moment shifted something in me. Success doesn’t have one definition. It’s different for everyone. And it’s on each of us to define it for ourselves.
Success is knowing what you want and getting it.
Conversation #2 – Jordan Davis (2021)
Almost a decade later, I was on a coaching call with my then client, Jordan Davis. We started with our usual check-in. Then she said…
“I’ve realized something—I’m good.”
I asked what she meant.
“I mean I’m good. I live where I want to live. I drive what I want to drive. I take the vacations I want to take. I’m good.”
Still a little confused, I asked why she was sharing that with me.
“Because now, I want to spend my time helping the people who helped me get here experience the same thing.”
It takes courage to say “I’m good” in a culture that constantly pushes for more. It’s almost like saying there isn’t a god in the middle of church. But she wasn’t settling—she was shifting. From success to significance.
Here’s how I now think about it:
• Success is getting what you want.
• Significance is helping others get what they want.
• The bridge between the two is service.
The collisions of those conversations created an amazing model for fulfillment. Like most things that really work, it’s both practical and effective.
Start by asking “What do I want? How am I going to get it?” Once you’re there and that voice in you says “I’m good,” trust it. Then turn around and ask “Who am I going to serve?”
Success, Service, Significance…
Live Freed,
Jordan
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