Many people will have heard of Richard Branson, the maverick businessman who amassed a fortune of about £3 billion in his short life time. A fair number will also know who Barack Obama or Oprah Winfrey are.

Then there are the famous footballers, actresses and actors and of course just the bland career celebrities who we know by name and even know what they are up to.

Many of these folk are known only because they have made an inordinate amount of money.

Now how many of us will know the names of the top scientists currently producing serious new research, the best teachers and doctors around, the most humanitarian people and the greatest artists and composers currently delivering their magic?

Not that many. Yet the western world makes heroes out of ‘successful’ people. And to be a successful person you have to have a fair amount of money in the bank. Nothing else seems to count.

It would be a good idea to bring some balance into the famous people line-up. Why not give those others some time in the spotlight. Why only believe we have succeeded if the bank balance boils over.

Surely success may be counted in other ways? Making a small difference by looking after endangered animals counts as being a success in my eyes. Creating beautiful art should be called successful as well.

Singing, dancing, writing, painting, sculpting surely being good at these activities may be considered successful? Why does it always have to be money. An artist is only successful if he can sell his art at exorbitant prices.

But an artist is surely successful if somebody wants to hang his work on a wall because they love to look at it and not only because somebody is prepared to part with a large sum of money for it?

The western world seems to have such a skewed perspective on success. It’s only money or the control of money that translates into being considered a success. It’s a real pity because lots of money is surely the least meaningful in our lives.

Which is why the people who have it always want to make so much more. Madonna with all her money still goes on tour to make even more. All these hyper successful online marketers who have made their supposed millions still push their next product down your throat.

It’s never enough.

We need to rethink our idea of success so that every person can claim their rightful place in the success hall of fame. We are all successful in one way or another. In fact we could celebrate successes every day whether it’s planting new seedlings or performing an act of kindness to somebody.

My sister brought up an autistic child who now works a regular job as a baker, drives a car and in general lives a healthy and happy life. I think her life has been a huge success.

What have you done that could be entered into the hall of fame for success? Much, I’m sure of it. So make your own hall of fame and pin up those successes on the wall. Celebrate them for the achievements they are.

Just to add to this as a footer, coincidentally Fast Company has come out with a list of 100 most creative people in business and they have some folk on there because of their talents and abilites rather than because they are wealthy. Good one. Check the list here.