Are you constantly chasing success? Could it be that you have achieved it, but not noticed? Did you know that success can be really sneaky, and can be there hiding in plain site, denying you the chance to celebrate and feel proud of yourself.
The concept of what defines success or what being successful entails can differ from person to person. For some, success is measured in tangible accomplishments, such as making a certain salary, owning a home, or having a certain title.
For others, success can be found in actions and feelings, such as feeling contentment in life, having meaningful relationships, or pursuing personal passions. It also can depend on why success is important. Some people will focus on the key to success at work, which could be linked to what is the definition of success in business to define and answer for them the questions of what is the definition of success in life.
The 19th century poet Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success, could be said to have come from his most famous quote “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” whilst Sir Richard Branson multi millionaire and founder of the Virgin Group is possibly surprisingly quoted as stating his definition of success as “In my opinion true success should be measured by how happy you are.” (Independent Lifestyle Magazine 5th March 2018)
No matter what your definition is, it’s important to acknowledge what success means to you in order to know how to achieve it for YOU. If you cannot do this there is a danger that you will throughout your life perpetually chase someone else’s definition of what success is, and never really feel that buzz that you will get when you know you have achieved YOUR success for YOU!
In this post, we’ll discuss the definition of success, we will consider society’s definition of success, and most importantly help you to create your own definition of success, by encouraging you to write your own definition of success for YOU so YOU you have something tangible to work from to outline your plan of action, to determine some of the ways YOU can attain it.
What is the definition of Success?
Success is a term that is often used but can be difficult to define. It is a subjective experience, and what one person considers to be a success may be different for another. It is therefore not our intention to answer the question of what is success for you, but more to help you decide what success is to you.
It could be defined as the accomplishment of an aim or goal. It can also refer to a feeling of fulfilment, contentment, or satisfaction that comes from reaching a goal or completing a task. Success can be both tangible and intangible, and it can be measured in different ways. It is often associated with achieving wealth, power, or fame, but success can also be measured in more personal ways.
Success can be achieving a personal goal, such as running a marathon or learning a new language. It can be finding a career that you are passionate about or having a strong and supportive network of friends and family. It could be for some people having successfully put together their first flat pack, or hung a picture on a wall.
Ultimately, success is determined by the individual and can be defined in a variety of ways and the answer to what is success to one person, cannot always be agreed by another. The reason for this being that as individuals we are complex, with different life journeys and different sets of beliefs and values from which we measure life and what is success in that life. So, whilst we have yet to provide a definitive answer for you, our blog below looks to help you to define your answer to what is success.
What is Success to YOU?
The pursuit of success is a common theme throughout history. It is a journey that can be both rewarding and challenging and often involves setting goals, developing a plan, and taking action. It also involves taking risks, learning from mistakes, and having the courage to keep going even when the going gets tough. It is about the measure of success for individuals which often raises the question can success be measured and if so what would the measure of success be?
Individuals have long sought to achieve their goals and ambitions, whether those goals are material, personal, or a combination of both. The pursuit of success can be a difficult and challenging journey, it requires dedication, perseverance, and hard work, but it can also bring a great sense of satisfaction and fulfilment and be incredibly rewarding. Many people find that the journey towards success is often more important than the destination and begs the questions what is success and are success and happiness the same?
Hard work has been identified as a key factor in achieving success. It is said that hard work beats talent when it comes to achieving goals. Successful people are often those who have put in the effort and dedication required to reach their goals. This can involve long hours of study, practice, or preparation. It can also involve taking risks and making sacrifices in order to achieve success.
Success can bring a variety of benefits. It can bring a sense of accomplishment, pride, and satisfaction. It can also bring material rewards, such as wealth, power, and fame. Success can open up new opportunities and can provide the motivation to achieve further goals so as to bring about positive changes in one’s life. All of these benefits could be an answer to the questions of what is the definition of success.
But the road to success can be filled with obstacles and challenges. It can be difficult to maintain, as it often requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Additionally, success can bring its own pressures and expectations, which can be difficult to manage, for example the ability to remain humble and grounded when faced with success, or the resilience to ignore the opinions or others and maybe sometimes society in general, who may want to influence you with their thought patterns of what constitutes the definition of success.
It is important to be aware of these challenges and to have the courage and determination to overcome them. It is also important to recognise that failure is part of the journey and to learn from it, to not give up at the first hurdle but to try and try again. Einstein is said to have failed a thousand times before he successfully created the light bulb!
The reasons why people strive for success.
Knowing why success is important is behind the many reasons why people strive for success. For some, it may be a pursuit of financial freedom and security. Some people may be motivated by the idea of a better life for themselves or their family. Others may be motivated by the idea of achieving a certain level of prestige or status, or may be motivated by the idea of achieving a certain level of influence or power. For others, it may be the desire to make a difference in the world.
Achieving success can also bring a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, as well as the potential for recognition and praise. Success can also provide a feeling of self-worth and confidence which are two other motivators for the pursuit of success. For some people success is a big thing and for others it is not. A simple success could be painting a wall of a new home, for another it could be building a multi million pound business. So we are still sat with the question of what is success.
Different Types of Success
While financial and professional achievements are often associated with success, personal success can be just as meaningful. It is important to recognise that success comes in many forms, and it is up to the individual to define what success means to them. But in order to be able to do this, many people, most especially people with a low self esteem, or low confidence, will need someone to show them how they can define success, to be able to have the satisfaction and achievement of the wonderful feelings that success can bring to their life.
Financial success:
can be measured in terms of monetary gain, such as having a high salary or a large bank account. It is often seen as the most important type of success, as it cannot only be associated with wealth and status, but it can bring its own recognition. A common example of the recognition of financial success which many people strive for is having a good credit score and a healthy savings account so as to achieve financial freedom, defined as the ability to make decisions without worrying about money.
It can also help when looking to finance projects such as a new car or a mortgage for a home or the ability to have enough money to save for the future and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. There are other reasons just as valid, for example, having enough money to meet our basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing. For some to be able to afford the basics of life and to be free from debt, though a given for many, is a huge success for others.
Professional success:
is another type of success that many people seek, measured in terms of career advancement, for example promotions or awards. Professional success can refer to achieving a certain level of expertise or autonomy or authority in a chosen field, and the position of responsibility in that field such as a manager or a director, a professor or master practitioner or technician. It can also refer to having a good reputation in the workplace, as well as having a good work/life balance. But, again for some people it could be simply that they have a job, and feel valued and respected as a result.
Personal success:
is the type of success that is often overlooked possibly because it can be the hardest to measure or define. Though it can be measured in terms of personal growth and development, such as learning new skills or developing relationships, personal success can also refer to having a positive attitude and outlook, being solutions focussed, achieving a sense of satisfaction in one’s life, such as a feeling of contentment with our accomplishments such as developing a new skill or overcoming a personal obstacle or feeling a sense of purpose, much of which is an internal feeling measured on a personal scale of success and what it means to the individual concerned.
Strategies for Achieving Success
Success is often misinterpreted as simply achieving wealth and fame, but what we should be striving for is finding the right balance between achieving our goals and enjoying the moment. It does not happen overnight, and it takes hard work, dedication, and resourceful thinking to achieve it. It is therefore, important to have a clear understanding of your goals and the motivation to pursue them. It is not necessarily linked to monetary gain or fame, but heavily reliant on our own internal definitions of what success looks like for us.
To be successful, we must not only be growth-oriented and goal-focused, but have a strong sense of wellbeing and fulfilment. There are a variety of strategies that can be employed to help guide the process and foster creativity and we have additional information in our blog ‘The Key to Success in 5 Practical Steps’.
Preparation is the key to success and having goals is a key component to success, as without a direction to aim for, we often do not end up achieving much. It is important to ensure that goals are challenging but attainable, allowing for growth and satisfaction when they are met.
The first step to achieving success is setting realistic goals. Once you have defined what it is that you are seeking to achieve you need to begin by setting basic goals, such as short-term goals for the day or week, and gradually build up to longer-term goals that may take weeks or months to accomplish.
Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, and time-sensitive (SMART). Setting goals helps to eliminate distractions and keeps you focused on the task at hand. Once goals are set, the next step is to develop a plan of action that outlines the steps needed to achieve the desired outcome.
Start by breaking down your objectives into smaller, more manageable tasks. Plans should incorporate all resources that are available and take into consideration the time and effort that will be required. It will help to create a timeline, assign deadlines, track your progress, and make adjustments as needed. It is important to remain disciplined and committed to your plan, and success behaviours are important in order to stay on track and achieve your goals, but remember life happens, so your plan of action should remain flexible and be reviewed and updated as needed.
Another important part of success is utilising resources to help you achieve your goals. Successful people learn to utilise the resources at their disposal rather than relying solely on their own efforts. This includes networking with like-minded individuals, seeking advice from experts in the field, studying relevant materials, attending workshops, and utilising online tools to stay organised and informed.
Taking advantage of these available resources can open you up to new ideas or insights that may help you reach your goals quicker.
Success is not achieved overnight; it takes dedication and intention. It can be found in many forms, from personal or professional to financial. Whatever success may look like for an individual, setting goals, planning, and taking advantage of resources are all keys to achieving the desired outcome. Finding success can sometimes seem like a daunting task, however the rewards that comes with achieving it makes the journey worth it. With hard work, dedication, and the right strategy, success is achievable.
Conclusion
Success is an aspiration that we have all pursued and continue to desire in some form or another. Whether it be through personal, financial, or professional success, the pursuit of success has been a staple of human culture for as long as there have been goals to strive for and desires to meet.
It holds a variety of definitions and its definition is often based on personal, financial, and professional success. It’s not an easy task to achieve success, but it is possible with consistent goal setting, planning, and using available resources.
Everyone’s journey is unique, and the reward felt when that success is attained cannot be quantified. For some, success is found in having meaningful relationships. For others, it may be reaching a certain level of personal or professional achievement. The journey to success can be full of surprises, challenges, and defeats. What one person sees as success another will not.
It should therefore be remembered that whatever, YOUR definition, success is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and should be tailored to the unique goals and dreams of each individual. Where with thoughtful goals, deliberate planning, and leveraging available resources, anyone can increase their chances of success and achieve their dreams. But equally just being aware of and celebrating all of your achievements, can simply be a way that you can enjoy and feel the buzz of celebrating success everyday.
Good luck!