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Volumes have been written about how to achieve success … but few of us have actually taken the time to clearly define what “our” version of success really means.
For one person it may mean a fine career with benefits and a pension plan. To another it may mean a loving family with the basic needs of life met, or reaching an educational milestone and attaining some sort of distinction in their chosen career path. To another it may mean building a successful corporation with millions, or even billions of dollars in assets and revenue.
The question is how do we measure success? Is achieving a goal – even a short lived achievement – considered a success? Of course that really depends on your definition of success.
Webster’s definition of success:degree or measure of succeedingfavorable or desired outcome; also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminenceLeaves it wide open for interpretation doesn’t it? I think that’s the point because there really is no one, all-encompassing definition of success.
Are you successful simply because you completed something you set out to do?What about the connection between success and happiness?What if you learn new skills and achieve several small milestones, but don’t succeed with the ultimate goal – is that to be considered a failure?Have you ever accomplished something that didn’t make you feel happy or satisfied?Why is it so important to define your version of success? For one thing, until you know what it really means to you it’s pretty difficult to make it a reality. For another, all too often we associate our successes in life with the opinions of others: we want to look better to them, or prove something to them. So instead of celebrating the very HARD work we’ve done when we do achieve our goals, we remain stuck on why we’re not getting the response and recognition we wanted from others. Not fun.
Ultimately success is merely a label with a relative definition based on our individual dreams and priorities in life, but there again unless you have a really clear vision of what you want in life it be difficult to put into words what success means to you.
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do. ~Bob Dylan
I thought it might be interesting to take a look at a few personal definitions of success.
Each of the following are actual quotes from (other) people experiencing a wide range of success – from still early visions of an ideal future, to a level many of us would consider as having “arrived.”Success is …When your signature changes to an autograph.The best revenge.To live, love, laugh and learn a LOT.To live life without regrets.To feel at ease with myself.Achieving what I worked hard for, and still wanting it.A moving target, there’s never a time when you can say, well I’m done now.Freedom to live my life in my own way.Being able to afford to pay others to do the grunt work so I can spend time doing things I love.Helping others and making a difference in the world while doing the things I love.The ability to travel to magnificent places and buy whatever I want, no matter how expensive.Being able to pay my bills and sleep well at night.Knowing that if today were my last day on earth, I could look at my life up to now and feel satisfied with what I’ve accomplished.The satisfaction and self-respect that comes from achieving a challenging goal.Being able to say, I love what I do, and really mean it!Clarifying your perspective of what success (and failure) means to you is the only way you can truly experience the complete satisfaction of your achievements … because ultimately success is about freedom of choice and being able to live life on your own terms.
What about you? How do you define your success?
Mahalo!
Via Ariana Amorim
