Define Success
@purposedriven (842)
United States
January 7, 2008 4:48pm CST
We long for it, we constantly speak about it, but what is it exactly? What are we willing to do as individuals to obtain the highest level of success possible? What is the highest level of success? What does success mean to us? The idea for this discussion topic derived from realizing that so many people have promised as part of their New Year's Resolution to be successful. But what does being successful mean? What is it that you want to be successful at? Is it business, family, health, relationship, or simply at life. My understanding and perception of success is ultimate fulfillment; knowing that I have lived up to my potential and beyond in whatever I do, no matter how small. Everything I seek out to accomplish, I make it my priority to make happen. Yes, I may be faced with challenges along the way. But having so many experiences with obstacles and challenges have made me a more open-minded person and have allowed me to "stick" with it for a longer period of time if the need be. I define success as the feeling of convincing myself that I did the best I could and that I have acquired something positive and useful as part of that experience. Success, is never having to say "I can't" or "that's hard and impossible." Success is believing in your abilities and preparing yourself to leap over and push through whatever may prevent you from reaching the other side. Success is always looking at situations from the outside in and never prejudging. Success is utilizing your past experiences as motivation to push harder. Success is knowing who you are and living up to your every potential and abilities. If you choose to fail, then that's what you will do. But if you choose to succeed, failures will only be your preparations for comebacks. So tell me...what is success for you?
2 people like this
5 responses
@neenasatine (2841)
• Philippines
8 Jan 08
“If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.” Anna Quindlen
There is no one, all-encompassing definition of success because success is a relative concept. Success, in the action sense, is achieving something you have set out to do and wanted to do. But what about the connection between success and happiness? What if what you’ve accomplished doesn’t bring you true happiness and satisfaction? Are you still successful simply because you completed something?
1 person likes this
@purposedriven (842)
• United States
8 Jan 08
You are absolutely right and actually mentioned what I hoped would come out of the discussion. If you noticed I didn't mention anything about happiness in my discussion. I didn't mention happiness, because happiness is something I will always have. There is nothing that I do in my daily life that I don't do unless it brings me happiness. I believe that it is a waste of time to drown yourself in tasks simply because or just to get by. I do because I found that ultimate happiness doing. Whatever it is I seek to accomplish...I know I seek to accomplish it because of the feeling of happiness. I wanted to see if anyone would point that out, and you did. Success without happiness, is not success at all. To simply complete or accomplish something doesn't mean that you are successful. If you are not fulfilled internally, then you have not reached true success. Thank you so much for that and for seeing the real picture.
@neenasatine (2841)
• Philippines
16 Jan 08
thank you for choosing me as the best response. actually i'm having the question in relation to success a few years ago. i am always aiming for a job with higher compensation however i did not consider whether i will be happy or not for the job. thank God i have now the job in which i am happy and gives me enough salary but not as much as i expected.i am still happy but aiming for more. right now i am an online writer. it is the best job for me but looking for other sidelines of the same nature of job. i don't want to try any other jobs except for any job which is writing in nature since i am happy with it.
@kdhartford (1151)
• United States
16 Jan 08
I define success by being able to do the things that I want to do. Those are the things that are fulfilling to me. Of course, at my position, people come to me for advice and people respect the way that I'm able to motivate other people. The problem with most people is that they give up before they succeed. My advice is to never give up.
1 person likes this
@purposedriven (842)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Great point. To experience success in whatever it is that we see as success, that means never giving up. To give up means that we have accepted failure, therefore success will never be at our reach. If we all could hold on a little longer...try a little bit more...imagine the results!
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
9 Jan 08
I posted a similar discussion awhile back and it is a topic that many enjoy discussing. I like what you said that you, "Define success as the feeling of convincing myself that I did the best I could and that I have acquired something useful and positive within the experience...and that is similar to how I see it as well. Often the successes that we feel within ourselves have nothing to do with other people and their perception of us...but more with how we view ourselves. The poem I originally included on my site is included here because I think it is a lovely way of stating your view...and mine.
SUCCESS
Whether you feel you are a success or not,
Can depend on your point of view.
Success is a measure of achievement in life.
Judged on who you are and what you do.
You don’t have to win to be a success,
Full participation in life can be success in itself.
Achieving the best you are capable of,
Can bring many rewards including good health.
There will always be bigger goals to reach for,
And others in life to look up to.
This doesn’t mean
Your success may be seen from the eyes of your peers,
It may be evident to others…yet to you not defined.
Although it’s how you perform to the challenges of life.
Success has little true meaning…until it is felt in the mind.
---Anonymous
1 person likes this
@purposedriven (842)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I loved it! Thank you so much for sharing your view and understanding of the matter. I truly appreciate it. Thanks again and see you around. Be blessed and always positive.
@purposedriven (842)
• United States
16 Jan 08
You are so right! It is never too late. Success comes in all different forms; small and large. Success is defined differently among all of us. What I may see as success will not be success to you and vice versa. If there is something that you have always dreamed of accomplishing...go for it! What do you have to lose? Be blessed and always positive. Thanks for sharing.
@wendymay1 (3)
• New Zealand
10 Jan 08
Success to me is when you have accomplished a worthwhile goal of your interest whether it is an individual or team goal depending what area of focus to the person or persons are intending to work towards.There are basically 2 steps of achievement. 1.A goal has to be written down to crystalize the thinking pattern. 2.
A plan of action is then implemented once all the pros & cons are finalised to achieve the worthwhile goal. Revising, & reporting on a daily basis, weekly, monthly or yearly motivates the person or persons to accelerate quickly the goal to be accomplished. Once goal is achieved, thats what success is...
1 person likes this
@purposedriven (842)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Great concept. Thanks for sharing. Be blessed and always positive!
