What Defines Success?

Over the past few days, I have indulged in some television-watching and found myself mesmerized by the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. So many athletes. So many stories. Extraordinary achievements from individuals who, at first glance, seem just like any of us.

I was particularly intrigued by figure skating couple Madison Chock and her husband, Evan Bates. For four years, they worked relentlessly with one goal in mind — arriving in Milan with a gold medal within reach. This past Wednesday, they delivered the performance of a lifetime. Gold was in sight. Yet when the scores were tallied, Madison and Evan were just 1.43 points shy, earning silver behind France.

So why am I talking about the Olympics? What does this have to do with us — with FNGLA?

While we may not train like Olympians, in our own way we dedicate countless hours preparing for the Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE). We strategize, we coordinate, we problem-solve, and we show up ready to perform. And this year we delivered.

In my mind, and through the many comments shared with me by attendees and exhibitors, TPIE was a gold-medal event.

You may define success differently. Perhaps it was the number of leads generated, the orders written on the show floor, or the fresh ideas gathered for the upcoming season. Success is personal. It is measured through individual goals and expectations.

To Madison and Evan, silver felt like falling short. Yet to the rest of the world, it was an extraordinary accomplishment.

So how do you measure success?

For some of you, success recently meant protecting your inventory during Florida’s unusually low temperatures. It meant pivoting quickly, reassigning personnel, safeguarding product, and making difficult operational decisions. It required resilience, leadership, and hard work – all in pursuit of your goals.

Success is not always a medal. Sometimes it is perseverance. Sometimes it is adaptation. Sometimes it is simply showing up prepared and doing your very best.

In sum, success is not defined by a single score, but by the effort, commitment, and passion we bring to our work and to our industry. And by that measure, our FNGLA community continues to achieve at the highest level.

Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and your continued pursuit of excellence.

Marcella Lucio-Chincilla

FNGLA 2025-26 President