Defining Success

Defining Success

Success is many things to many people. Worldbook defines success as a favorable result or wished for ending through the achievement of goals. That is, if one attains a desired goal through achievement, he would be considered a success. However, a successful character, cannot be produced from one successful feat. The true indicator of success is not what is accomplished, but what is felt. In order to be successful, one must be happy.

For example, if a person looks back on his career and feels satisfied and happy with his status, he would be considered a success. However, if he looks back and realizes he could've attained much more and feels disappointed, he would not be successful. Success is directly proportionate to happiness. Without it, there cannot be success. Success can also be reached by achievement of goals. In order to accomplish a goal, one must accomplish smaller goals that lead up to the main achievement. For instance, if a football team achieved its aim to win their district and the state championship, they would be successful. On the other hand, if the team set out to have a winning record, and failed, the season would not be considered successful.

Success, no matter how big or small the goals are, can only be grasped through the attaining of those goals. Success must also be sought after. For anyone to have success, they must fight and strive for it. If a secretary of a large corporation worked her way up the ladder through hard work and sacrifice, she would be a success. On the other hand, if a secretary had a friend who got her a job at the top, she would not be looked upon as a success. There must be a desire for improvement and a commitment to achieve success. It cannot be handed out or paid for. If a student worked hard on homework, read the material, and did well on the test, they would be successful. The desire to work hard and make a good grade produced his success. If he'd been given the answers before the test, and he scored well, he could not be a success. His lack of willingness to work for the grade led to the lack of success.

If a football team beat a superior team and then lost the next week to a lesser opponent, the team would not be a success. Success breeds success. Achievement must be followed by more achievement in order to be considered successful. For example, a successful runner must run hard every race. He must do his best to win every time. If he won his first race and lost the next two, success would not be at hand. Because of his lack of consistency in hard work and desire, he could never be successful. There is one area of success that differs with the others. This area is called "seeming" success. For instance, if a runner strived to be the best--practiced hard, always tried to improve--and never won, he would not be a success. Although he did his best and worked twice as hard, his lack of winning makes him unsuccessful.

A student who does all in his power to get A's and doesn't, is not successful. His desire to make A's is commendable, but his lack of achievement leaves him unsuccessful. It can only be achieved if one accomplishes what he sets out to do. Even though happiness can accompany "seeming" success, the fact that goals are not met makes it an unsuccessful attempt. Another type of "seeming" success is involuntary success. For example, if a civilian gets drafted, against his will, and his unit is very successful, that soldier could not be included in his unit's success. Even though that soldier helped for the good of the unit, his original plans for life did not include the military. His goals were not the goals of the unit, therefore he is not a success militarily. The reason people are successful is because of their desire, hard work, and achievement.

One of the most complex examples of success is the winning of money. Is the winning of money considered successful? If a person buys a lottery ticket, he is setting his goal on winning. In addition, if the person wins, he is obviously happy. However, this person is not considered successful. Although his goal is to win, he has no control over winning or losing. Achieving goals means working for them and knowing the result. The person is going to be elated about winning but not about achieving goals. Happiness from success results from the achievements accomplished.