Today's youth have largely been described as restless. Compared to the other generations that came before them, the millennial, as they are known, seem to always be on the move. Something they fondly refer to as hustling or the paper chase. A perpetual pursuit of financial success.

A closer look at what really inspires their efforts reveals it's basically how they define success. They define it by money. The more you have the more successful you are.

Granted, the world today is more competitive and expensive than it was, say, a century ago. So the need for money is of  importance, but is money really the true  measure of success?

My belief is that it's much more deeper than that. As I have come to realize through my personal experiences and interactions with  those deemed to be successful, financially or otherwise,  success is  more like a narrative that begins with a passion, a clear purpose and ends in prosperity- both for an individual and the people around them.  What I call the three pillars of success.

To put it into perspective, here is a simple info-grahphic of  famous people in different fields I consider to be successful.

                                     Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Theoretical physicist known for developing the general theory of relativity.

                                  Wangari Muta Maathai(1940-2011)

One of Kenya's famous daughters known for her work in politics and mostly Environmental conservation.

                                               Dr .Jame Mwangi

Equity bank CEO and Kenya's most awarded Business leaders.

A look at the success journeys  of  the individuals above shows for most of what they are celebrated for, money occupies a very small part yet they were/are highly successful in the individual paths they chose. Einstein left a remarkable mark in physics, Wangari Maathai inspired a whole generation into environmental conservation not to forget the millions of trees she planted as James Mwangi continues to fund entrepreneurs and mentor the next generation of leaders.

So if you asked me what I consider to be a true measure of  success. Money will definitely not be it.