Success means achieving what we set out to do or reaching greater than that. In everything that we aspire to do, the ultimate benchmark is being a success.

There are two distinct approaches to success. In history, Genghis Khan claimed himself to be successful. Mahatma Gandhi is respected and regarded as a success. The paths chosen to be successful are very different from each other. One was a mercenary, while the other was a missionary.

Defining the path of one’s success is a personal choice. For a mercenary, the end justifies the means. For a missionary, the journey by itself becomes the goal.

Great lawyers are missionaries. Their career stands on truth, sincerity, and compassion.

To the world, success looks the same for a missionary lawyer and a mercenary lawyer. Both may win cases and may accumulate wealth but from very different paths.

The price of success is sacrifice. One may call it hard work. A simple way to identify a mercenary lawyer is by the way they function. Mostly they are loners. They do not like to work under a boss and hence start their legal practice. They do what they do because they get paid for it. More often, their success comes at the cost of others.

Missionary lawyers are aware that success is not pursued alone. They are open to working with senior lawyers or a law firm. They accept ridicule and open to change. They take feedback and challenge themselves to pursue their values. For them, the journey is internal.

In the pursuit of success, you will have to define what is important to you. Below are few thought-provoking questions that may help you:

• What is truly important to me?
• If not for my profession, what else would I choose to do?
• What do I want to be known for in this lifetime?
• If I had all the money I need, would I still pursue the current definition of success?
• What are the benchmarks of my success?

You may create more questions to introspect. The answer lies within. 
Most people in the world thrive on survival. Rarely do people take time to understand their place on this planet. 

Your understanding of yourself is the ultimate measure of success. It requires courage and honesty to listen to what one wants to achieve. Once the goals are in place, the journey is worth taking. And that is a missionary.

The legal profession is one of the most sought-after careers. On the path of growth, successful lawyers choose their victories through their conscience. Once your goals and values match with the contribution you bring to others, success seeks you.