What is the price of success? Be it online or any career? What is success anyway? The tragic death of Australian born actor Heath Ledger brought these questions to mind today and how it relates to the online world.

The reaction in Australia to Heath Ledger ’s death in, like with Steve Irwin’s passing, has been amazing. There’s been non-stop coverage all day on some channels and the online world has been buzzing. As with Steve’s tragic end, the word most bandied about is “shock”.

Heath Ledger was young, seemed like a decent guy with his head screwed on straight, he was at the top of his trade, had a daughter he doted on, cash, posessions - he had everything to live for… so say others.

While there’s been no formal conclusion as to how he died; whether it was purposely by his own hand, illness or just a terrible accident - it did make me think about how we define that word; “success”.

Who are we to judge who is successful in this life? I think that’s more a personal judgement that should be made. I’ve met people whom I’ve envied to some degree only to find their lives to be hollow, lonely and empty. They chased what they thought would make them happy, achieved it after great sacrifice and then found it didn’t make them happy at all. Imagine how that must feel … it would be the worst sort of failure. I sometimes wonder what I’d do in that situation if it occurred.

In the words of the great philosopher, James Hetfield (Metallica)

“Careful what you wish,
You may regret it
Careful what you wish
You may just get it”
(King Nothing)

… and please; *nobody* write to me and tell me James isn’t a philosopher ;).

I make special mention of this “success” thing as in the world of online business, there’s people we look up to; to aspire to emulate - some of them are likely marketers. These people tend to sell themselves to us as the epitomy of success on the web. “Be like me and you could have all this” - a thriving business, cars, houses etc. etc. etc.

Remember that the world of marketing is much like the acting business. We present a facade we want people to see - it doesn’t represent the real person or how “successful” they may really feel. The online superstars, the gurus are all humans like you and I; with lots of thorny bits and often, closets full of skeletons rattling away. The overnight success stories are sometimes many years in the making with many sacrifices, mistakes and pain along the way.

When setting your online goals.. remember it can be a big commitment; think carefully about what would make you happy; what would make you feel like a success - don’t let anyone else tell you what that success should look like.

On behalf of my family, we convey our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Heath. We admired his work and he will be greatly missed. Whatever the reason behind his passing, he has left us with much to think about in our own lives.