Research Paper-Defining Success

Jasmyne Hutton
Mrs. Applegate
English III, First Hour
14 December 2011
Defining Success
Everybody wants to live the American dream. People strive for nice cars, fancy clothes, great big houses, and pretty much everything between. The number one priorities in life should be family and happiness. As long as a person is happy with their life and enjoys their career despite the money, a person is successful. When you have changed somebody’s life in great ways then a person is also considered successful. Success is viewed differently amongst every individual and has been changed throughout each generation. Realizing what is important in an individual’s life is very necessary. In order to be successful a person needs to have self-confidence and know what matters to them most (Kwan). Being successful is about feeling accomplished. When an individual feels good about themselves and what they do then they are successful. If a person does not like their career no matter how much money they make, they will not feel successful or be happy (Seger). When a person does what they love and realize what is important, a person should feel successful. Being happy is an important quality everyone should feel in life. Without happiness an individual has failed entirely. People should not let their disabilities get in the way of learning and living. Even with disabilities a person can become successful. When Helen Keller was a child she said that she was going to college. Despite her disabilities she still had the will to do something with her life and become successful and she did (“Helen Keller”). In order to be successful one needs to be a good leader and do not let fear be an obstacle on the road to success (Harper). Helen Keller was both deaf and blind but she did not let her disabilities be an obstacle in life. Most people would fear stepping in public with such disabilities. They would feel like they could not go any further in life and just give up all hope. Helen Keller should be an inspiration for all people when discussing success. When discussing a successful person, people automatically assume they are talking about someone with money. People are completely oblivious about what the word success really means. “The essence of true success is the conduct of life that you develop. It is the conduct of life that a person develops. It is the character that a person cultivates. It is the type of person one becomes. This is the central meaning of successful living. Such success is one that success in producing an ideal individual. A person’s success is not measured in terms of what all a person obtains but in terms of what a person becomes, how they live, and what action’s a person does. Upon this point reflect well and attain great happiness”(Chindananda). Life is what you make it. Being successful is measured on how a person defines life. When a person is determined and have their priorities straight they can do anything they set their minds to do. A person must fail a few times in order to succeed. Michael Jordan was a determined man. November 5, 1985, Michael Jordan found out that his foot injury was much worse than he had assumed and that he was going to be out of season for six weeks. (Kornbluth). Michael Jordan never gave up. Michael Jordan started practicing with his team again even though he still had foot problems. He was scared that he would not be able to play for the rest of the season (Kornbluth). Despite Michael Jordan’s injuries he continued to pursue his dream. Michael Jordan is one of the most successful NBA players the world has ever seen. Determination can take a person far in life. People define success differently. Success to most people is defined by how much money a person has, how many cars they drive, and how famous or popular they are; what hat is really important is how one defines their life (Seger). Life should be balanced; work should not be the main priority in a person’s life (Seger). When a person works hard and strives for their goals they are bound to be successful. If everyone would focus on the importance in life everything would be simpler. People make life more complicated that what it really is. Of course obstacles are going to be in a person’s way in life, but in order to be successful and truly be happy, optimism is needed. Sure everyone wants money and they want to live the luxurious life. The easiest way in life sometimes is not the best way for a person though. Everyone has struggles they have to go through, some more than others. Everyone knows the old saying, “Money makes the world go around.” It is a true statement. We all wish we could live on this earth worry free, but it is not that simple. A person has to work hard to achieve their goals in life. “Money is very important and should not be denied or scorned. It is very important. It is not, however, a measure of success. Success is internal, being able to look in the mirror when a person brushes their teeth and liking what they see and not dropping their eyes. Liking who they are as a person and liking the person they want to become. And that is it.” –Maya Angelou (Kwan). When a person has achieved their goals in life and they feel accomplished they are considered successful. Money cannot buy person happiness. To become successful, a person needs to have motivation and stay focused on what is important. Many people place their focus and motivation in the wrong direction. Some choose to seek success and glory by getting involved in illegal activities, believing that this will somehow lead them to a better life. Most of the people who make those choices usually find themselves behind prison bars.
Success is also measured in the way a person treats others. Treating people with kindness and respect is a very important quality in life. Those two attributes are seriously lacking in the definition of success today but are still relevant. The lives of those willing to share their success by helping others are greatly enriched in many ways. When shown love, kindness and respect one usually gets the same in return. Regardless of how much money a person has, if they show genuine respect to others they will always receive rich rewards. Many successful people make a list of goals and make a commitment to carry out these goals over a certain period of time. Setting goals helps an individual become more motivated and dedicated to improvement. Instead of walking around clueless, a person with goals has put priorities in order and knows what has to be accomplished so as to become successful. Working hard to achieve those goals is very important and makes the individual more dedicated to success as opposed to one who puts forth little or no effort. Family is a very important factor in a successful life. Success in family life will ultimately show in the life of an individual outside the home. A person has to be careful not to allow success to come before family. Some individuals have dysfunctional families because of neglect, choosing to spend too much time at work. When the basic needs of their family are met, a person is truly successful.

Many people strive for the “finer things in life”: new cars, designer clothes, luxury homes, believing that these things are necessary for success. The top priorities in life should be family and happiness. As long as a person is happy in life and has a rewarding career despite the paycheck, a person is successful. When an individual helps others in great ways that person is also considered successful. Although each person has different views on success, the definition will always remain the same.