What Does Success Mean?

When you talk about success, what do you think of? Most people think of success as an objective, quantifiable measurement of some sort. Perhaps the most common definition of success is defined as meeting a set of agreed upon expectations. It can also be seen as the opposite of failure, defined as the condition or state of passing up an option that might have been available to the person if they had acted differently. The standards for success can be relative to an individual's belief system or context and are generally agreed upon by an observer.


In order to avoid the pitfalls that trap so many people, defining success can be broken down into smaller components. The components may also be broken down according to the theory of proximal achievement. This theory states that "a characteristic of successful people" is that they consistently attain a high degree of the goals they set. Many people agree with this definition, especially those who are successful in business, politics, sports, or other endeavors that require broad and long term goals.

What most people tend to forget, is that there are many different definitions of success, and that they are often unrelated. The definition that was mentioned above is a narrow focus, defining a set of outcomes that are thought to be associated with success. However, what is important is to find a definition of success for yourself. This definition will give you the framework on which to build your future, both personally and professionally. Success can mean different things to many people, and it can even mean different things to different people. You need to determine what makes you feel successful, what keeps you motivated, and what you are good at.

Many people define success as financial security. I think this would be fine if you were looking at success in a financial sense. Financial security would certainly be great if you won the lottery or received a large tax refund. If you have done well financially in the past, then that is wonderful. But if you want to know what it means to truly "be successful," you need to look beyond your financial situation. You need to make sure that you are financially secure and happy, and that your life is full of joy and contentment.

When we define success, we should also be looking at our strengths and weaknesses. Some people have an amazing skill that others do not. Others have the knowledge necessary to achieve success, but lack the motivation and desire to make it happen.

Another common mistake made by those who are looking to achieve success is to define success in terms of monetary gains. This is fine, as long as you are doing everything within your power to reach those monetary goals. It is true that money can make you happy, but the happiness you seek comes from finding your passion and making your dreams become a reality.

When you set realistic goals for yourself, you will find that achieving them becomes much easier. Instead of feeling like you are chasing a dream or avoiding disappointments, you will feel like you can always go for that next huge goal you have been dreaming of, because you have a path to get there. When you are successful, no one else can take credit for your successes, and you will actually start to get more fulfillment out of life. When you have a plan, you can accomplish anything you set out to do.


Remember, when you are defining success, remember that everyone has a path to success, but only you can take that path to success. No one else can tell you what your goals are, so don't let anyone tell you what your goals are. Do the work, put in the time, and you will achieve success.