Was Abraham Maslow Right About Success?

What Does It Actually Mean to Be Successful?

For most of us, the answer seems obvious.

Earn good money. Have a good career. Own a nice home. Be respected. Have a family. Be financially secure. Achieve something.

And perhaps, if we achieve enough of these things... we'll finally feel successful.

But here's a strange question. What happens when you achieve the things you've been told should make you happy... and you're still not fulfilled?

Perhaps this is one of the most important questions we can ask about modern life. Because we have become very good at measuring success. Income. Property. Career progression. Business growth. Status. Followers. Possessions.

But some of the things that may matter most to human beings are much harder to measure. Meaning. Purpose. Connection. Personal growth. Fulfilment. And the feeling that we are becoming the person we are capable of becoming.

Almost a century ago, psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory of human motivation that gives us an interesting framework for thinking about these questions. His famous hierarchy of needs suggests that human beings aren't motivated only by survival and material needs. There is also a desire to grow. To develop. To create. And ultimately, to realise our potential.

So perhaps the question isn't simply:

"How successful am I?"

Perhaps we should also ask:

What Does Success Actually Mean?

The word success sounds simple. But what does it actually mean?

For one person, success might mean earning enough money to provide security for their family. For another, it might mean building a successful business. For someone else, it might mean becoming an excellent musician, teacher, scientist, athlete or artist. For another person, success might simply mean having enough freedom to spend time with the people they love.

The problem is that society often gives us a definition of success before we have had the opportunity to create our own. We are told what success looks like. Good grades. A good university. A good career. A good salary. A house. A family. A comfortable retirement.

And there is nothing inherently wrong with any of these things. They can all contribute to a good life. But what if they aren't the whole story? What if someone achieves everything on the list and still feels that something is missing?

The Difference Between Success and Fulfilment

Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes we make is assuming that success and fulfilment are the same thing. They aren't necessarily.

Success is often externally visible. You can see the house. The car. The promotion. The business. The bank balance. The awards. The followers.

Fulfilment is different. You can't always see it. A teacher inspiring children may be deeply fulfilled without becoming wealthy. A parent raising a family may experience enormous meaning without receiving public recognition. An artist creating something beautiful may feel fulfilled even if very few people know their name. A person helping their community may never become financially successful by conventional standards.

This doesn't mean money and achievement don't matter. They do. It means that external achievement is only one possible measure of a human life.

What Do Human Beings Actually Need?

Perhaps we need to step back. Before asking what makes someone successful, perhaps we should ask: What do human beings actually need?

We need food. We need water. We need shelter. We need safety. We need connection. We need relationships. We need to feel valued.

And perhaps we need something else. We need opportunities to become something ourselves.

This is where Maslow becomes particularly interesting. His work suggests that human motivation isn't simply about acquiring more possessions. Human beings have multiple levels of need. And understanding those needs can change the way we think about success.

What Is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who became particularly well known for his theory of human motivation. His hierarchy of needs is commonly represented as a pyramid containing different categories of human needs.

At the foundation are basic physiological needs. Then safety. Then belonging and love. Then esteem. And at the higher level, self-actualization.

The basic idea is that human beings aren't motivated by exactly the same things at every stage of life. When survival is threatened, survival becomes extremely important. When people are reasonably secure, other needs can become more prominent. And as people develop, they may increasingly seek meaning, growth, creativity and the realisation of their potential.

It's a powerful framework. But it is also important not to treat it as a perfect scientific law. Human motivation is complicated. People don't always move neatly from one level to another. Needs can overlap. Different people prioritise different things. And Maslow's original ideas have been debated and criticised.

That doesn't make the framework useless. It means we should explore it with curiosity rather than treating it as unquestionable truth.

Level One: Physiological Needs

At the foundation are our most basic physical needs. Food. Water. Shelter. Sleep. The things we need simply to remain alive and physically function.

It's difficult to think deeply about purpose when you don't know where your next meal is coming from. It's difficult to focus on personal growth when your basic survival is threatened.

This reminds us of something important. Material conditions matter. Any philosophy of human flourishing that ignores basic human needs is incomplete. Before we can ask someone to become their best self, we should recognise that human beings need the foundations that make development possible.

Level Two: Safety and Security

Once basic survival is reasonably secure, another need becomes important. Safety. We want a home. We want stability. We want protection from danger. We want financial security. We want to know that tomorrow isn't going to suddenly destroy everything we've built.

This is one reason money matters. Financial security isn't simply about buying luxury goods. Money can provide food. Housing. Healthcare. Education. Protection from certain emergencies.

And beyond a certain point, financial security can provide something incredibly valuable: choice. It can give someone the ability to say no. The ability to change direction. The ability to take a risk. The ability to spend more time with family.

So again, this isn't an argument against money. Money matters. But perhaps money should be understood as a tool for building a good life rather than the definition of a good life.

Level Three: Love and Belonging

Security isn't enough. Human beings are social creatures. We need relationships. Family. Friendship. Love. Community. Connection. We want to belong.

This is something that conventional definitions of success can sometimes overlook. You can have an impressive career and still be lonely. You can have a large house and still feel isolated. You can have thousands of followers and still feel unknown. You can have financial security and still feel disconnected.

Perhaps belonging is one of the things that money cannot simply purchase. Because human connection isn't a possession. It's a relationship. And relationships require time. Attention. Trust. Care.

Level Four: Esteem

Then comes esteem. We want to feel capable. Competent. Respected. Valued. We want to know that our efforts mean something. We want to accomplish things.

This can take many forms. Graduating. Building a business. Learning a skill. Getting a promotion. Completing a difficult challenge. Creating something. Helping someone. Mastering a craft.

Achievement can be deeply satisfying. There is nothing wrong with wanting to become good at something. The question is what happens when achievement becomes the only measure of our worth.

Because there is always another target. Another promotion. Another competition. Another person who has more. Another mountain to climb. And eventually, we may have to ask:

The Success Ladder Never Ends

Imagine climbing a ladder. You work hard. You get promoted. You earn more. You buy a better house. You buy a better car. You reach another level.

Then you look upward. There is another rung. Another salary. Another title. Another achievement. Another person ahead of you. So you climb again. And again. And again.

The problem isn't climbing. The problem is forgetting to ask: Where is the ladder actually taking me?

You can spend your entire life becoming more successful according to somebody else's definition. And perhaps eventually discover that you were extremely successful at building a life you didn't actually want.

How Much Is Enough?

This may be one of the most important questions in modern life. How much money is enough? How much success? How much recognition? How many possessions? How many followers? How many achievements?

If the answer is always: "Just a little more," then the finish line keeps moving.

This doesn't mean ambition is bad. Ambition can be wonderful. It can motivate us to build. Create. Improve. Solve problems. Help people. Push beyond our limitations. But ambition needs direction. Otherwise we can become very good at moving without knowing where we're going.

Level Five: Self-Actualization

This brings us to the concept that made Maslow particularly influential in conversations about human potential. Self-actualization.

At its simplest, self-actualization refers to the desire to realise your potential. To become more fully yourself. To grow. To create. To learn. To explore. To develop your abilities. To express your individuality. To contribute something meaningful.

This is fundamentally different from simply acquiring more. You aren't asking: "What can I own?" You're asking: "What can I become?" That is a very different definition of success.

What Is Self-Actualization?

Self-actualization can be understood as the process of becoming more fully what you are capable of becoming. It isn't necessarily about becoming famous. It isn't necessarily about becoming rich. It isn't necessarily about becoming powerful.

It could mean becoming an excellent craftsman. A loving parent. A great teacher. A creative artist. A thoughtful scientist. A useful entrepreneur. A dedicated gardener. A writer. A musician. A community volunteer.

There isn't one career or lifestyle that represents self-actualization. That is important. Because your potential isn't necessarily the same as someone else's.

Are We Designed to Grow?

Perhaps one of the most interesting implications of Maslow's ideas is that human beings may not be satisfied by survival alone. Once basic needs are reasonably secure, we may begin asking different questions.

• Who am I?
• What am I capable of?
• What matters to me?
• What should I create?
• Who can I help?
• What do I want my life to mean?

These are questions of growth. And they cannot be answered simply by looking at your bank balance.

When Achievement Doesn't Fulfil You

Achievement can give us something real. Pride. Recognition. Confidence. Security. But achievement doesn't automatically give us meaning.

You can achieve a goal... and immediately start chasing the next one. You can earn more... and still wonder what you're doing with your life. You can have status... and still feel like nobody really knows you. You can have security... and still feel like something is missing.

Because having a successful life and experiencing a meaningful life aren't necessarily the same thing.

And perhaps that's why some people reach the destination... only to realise they don't know why they were travelling there in the first place.

Money Matters — But Money Isn't Everything

It is important to be honest about this. Money matters. If someone cannot afford food, housing or basic healthcare, telling them to forget about money and focus on self-actualization would be deeply unrealistic.

Financial security can dramatically affect quality of life. Money can create opportunities. It can reduce certain forms of stress. It can provide freedom. It can buy time. It can allow people to pursue projects and passions they might otherwise never have the opportunity to explore.

So the question isn't: "Is money important?" It clearly is.

The better question is: "What role should money play in a successful life?" Perhaps money should be a means, rather than the final destination.

What If Success Serves Your Life Instead?

Imagine two different situations. In the first, your entire life revolves around money. You work because you need more. You earn because you want more. You buy because you want more. You compete because someone else has more. And the cycle continues.

In the second, money is a tool. You earn enough to create security. You build financial freedom. You use your resources to support your family. You invest in your education. You create opportunities. You buy yourself time. You use that time to learn. Create. Explore. Build. Help. Live.

The external circumstances might look similar. But the relationship with money is completely different. Perhaps the question isn't whether money controls your life. Perhaps it is whether you control what money is for.

A Different Definition of Success

Maybe success isn't about rejecting money. Or ambition. Or achievement. Or security. Those things can all have a place in a good life.

Perhaps the question is whether they are serving your life... or whether your life has become devoted to serving them.

What if success meant having enough security to breathe... enough connection to belong... enough confidence to know your worth... and enough freedom to explore what you're capable of becoming?

Perhaps success isn't simply about: What you have. Perhaps it is also about: Who you're becoming.

Success and the Journey of Personal Growth

Personal growth doesn't necessarily mean becoming extraordinary in the eyes of everyone else. It may simply mean becoming more capable of living according to your values.

• Learning something new.
• Developing a skill.
• Improving your relationships.
• Becoming healthier.
• Understanding yourself.
• Becoming more confident.
• Becoming more compassionate.
• Creating something.
• Helping someone.
• Finding meaningful work.

These things may not always appear on a traditional definition of success. But they can transform a life.

Finding Yourself Instead of Following Someone Else's Definition

One of the deepest questions behind self-actualization is: Who am I?

Not: Who does society want me to be? Who does my family expect me to be? Who does social media tell me to be? Who does advertising tell me to be? Who do my competitors tell me to be?

But: Who am I actually capable of becoming?

This doesn't mean ignoring responsibility. It doesn't mean rejecting society. It doesn't mean abandoning ambition. It means becoming more conscious of the life you're building.

You can still work. Still earn money. Still build a business. Still have ambitions. Still pursue success. But perhaps you can do these things while asking whether they are aligned with the person you want to become.

Can You Be Successful and Still Feel Empty?

Yes. And perhaps this is one of the most important things to understand. External success doesn't guarantee internal fulfilment.

A person can achieve many conventional measures of success and still feel disconnected from their life. That doesn't mean their achievements are meaningless. It means achievement and fulfilment are different dimensions of human experience.

The answer may not be to throw away everything you've built. It may be to understand what is missing. Perhaps you need connection. Perhaps purpose. Perhaps creativity. Perhaps rest. Perhaps contribution. Perhaps a greater sense of autonomy. Perhaps the opportunity to develop something inside yourself that has been neglected.

The emptiness itself may be a question worth listening to.

Was Abraham Maslow Right About Success?

This is where we should be careful. Maslow's hierarchy is influential. It provides a useful framework for thinking about human motivation. It helped bring ideas such as growth, potential and self-actualization into mainstream psychological discussion.

But we shouldn't turn the hierarchy into an unquestionable scientific fact. Psychology has developed considerably since Maslow introduced his ideas. Researchers have questioned aspects of the hierarchy, including whether human needs always follow a strict sequence.

• People can pursue meaning while experiencing insecurity.
• People can create while struggling financially.
• People can sacrifice their own comfort to help others.

Human motivation is more complicated than a simple pyramid.

So perhaps the best question isn't: "Was Maslow completely right?"

Perhaps it is: "What can Maslow's ideas still teach us about how we think about success?" And that question remains surprisingly powerful.

What If We Are Measuring the Wrong Things?

Imagine if we measured success differently. Not only income. But also: Meaning. Health. Relationships. Learning. Creativity. Contribution. Freedom. Purpose. Personal growth. Fulfilment.

What would your life look like? Would you make different choices? Would you spend your time differently? Would you define enough differently? Would you pursue a different career? Would you build something of your own? Would you spend more time with people you love? Would you finally give yourself permission to develop an ability you've ignored for years?

Maybe. And perhaps that's the real value of questioning our definition of success. It gives us the opportunity to choose consciously.

The Question Maslow Leaves Us With

Perhaps Maslow's most interesting contribution isn't the pyramid itself. It is the possibility that human beings are not simply designed to accumulate.

We are capable of growth. Learning. Creating. Connecting. Contributing. Discovering. Becoming.

And perhaps this changes the question we should ask about our lives.

What Does a Successful Life Really Look Like?

Maybe there isn't one answer. A successful life could be a wealthy entrepreneur. It could be a teacher. A parent. A scientist. An artist. A craftsman. A gardener. A nurse. A writer. A community volunteer. A business owner. An employee who genuinely loves their work. Or someone whose greatest achievement is simply becoming a better version of themselves.

Success doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Perhaps that is precisely the point. Your life is yours. Your potential is yours. Your values are yours. And your definition of success ultimately has to mean something to you.

So, Was Maslow Right?

Perhaps the answer is: Partly. His hierarchy should not be treated as a perfect map of human motivation. Human beings are more complicated than five levels in a pyramid.

But the broader idea remains worth exploring. We need more than survival. We need security. We need belonging. We need to feel capable. And many of us eventually begin asking deeper questions about what we can become.

Perhaps that's why simply accumulating more doesn't always solve the feeling that something is missing. Because human beings aren't only consumers. We're creators. Learners. Parents. Friends. Builders. Explorers. Caregivers. Teachers. Artists. Entrepreneurs. Thinkers.

And perhaps our deepest satisfaction comes not simply from having more, but from becoming more fully ourselves.

Maybe Success Isn't the Problem

Maybe ambition isn't the problem. Money isn't the problem. Achievement isn't the problem. Security isn't the problem. The problem may be believing that these things are the entire definition of success.

Money can provide security. Achievement can provide confidence. Recognition can feel meaningful. Ambition can help us grow. But perhaps they work best when they serve something bigger. A meaningful life. Strong relationships. Personal growth. Contribution. Purpose. And ultimately, the development of our human potential.

So perhaps the question isn't: "How successful am I?"

Perhaps it is: "What am I becoming?"

Because if we get the definition of success wrong... we can spend our entire lives becoming very successful at living the wrong life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue the Transformation Journey

This article is part of the Get Out Rat Race journey from recognising the life we have been given to consciously exploring the person we can become.

The journey isn't about rejecting money. It isn't about quitting your job. It isn't about becoming rich overnight. And it isn't about escaping responsibility.

It is about becoming more conscious of what you are building with your life.

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