The first step toward becoming a success in business or life is to understand what it is. I think success is the favourable outcome of something attempted. To be successful is to have continuing success in your life. Therefore, it can have different meanings for different people. What is a success to me may not necessarily be something that is a success to you.
A basic illustration of this could be that my idea of success is to own ten houses. Until I own ten houses, I won’t feel as though I have been successful. However, you might see success as putting your children through private schools and until you do this, you are not successful.
When we have both gained what we set out to achieve, we both feel successful. However, an outsider looking at the two of us could well see that one of us was more successful than the other. But that would only be in his or her eyes and it would be based on his or her own measure of success.
Let’s go back to our definition of success – “the favourable outcome of something attempted”. What is an outcome? An outcome is something that follows from an action. In other words, it is a result or an outcome. An action occurs whenever we do, or don’t do, something.
For example, an action would be to mow the lawn. The outcome (or result) is a tidy yard we feel good about. We are happy to have our friends over and see that we have a tidy garden. The yard looks appealing to be in. However, not to take action would be not to mow the lawn. The outcome (or result) is weeds growing up to our knees. It would not inspire us to go out in the backyard and play cricket with the children.
By a favourable outcome, we mean a result that is encouraging or promising. In other words, the result does not have to be one hundred per cent on the first try. All it has to be is a sign that we are on the right track. The more times we do it, the more encouraging and promising it should become.
Suppose we decided to spend two hours a day cleaning up our yard. After the first day, we have cleaned up a quarter of the yard. This result is encouraging because we can see the benefits that will come when we have completed the job. However, if on the next day we decided to do nothing, then we would have an unfavourable outcome because there was no progress made.
At the end of a week, we have cleaned up our yard. We have been successful because we have succeeded in our effort. The job is done and we can clearly see the results. Now we are all ready to invite our friends over for a bar-b-que. How good we feel because we made the effort. This is to feel success.
Using these examples, I think I have also showed the meaning of “something tried” in our definition of success. However, to make it crystal clear, to try something is to make an effort to do something or to achieve something. In other words, we need to try. Usually you gain success through action. There is an old saying that goes – “to do nothing is to be nothing”. Another one is “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.
Another part of our definition of success is that it is not permanent. By this I mean the good feeling of success does not last unless we continue to do that give us favourable outcomes. Going back to our yard example, we feel good because we have completed the job.
However, if we don’t continue to keep our yard in a tidy state, it becomes untidy again. Because of inaction, whenever we look at our yard we see the weeds and mess. We do not feel good about it until we clean it up again. It is the same with success. Remember, it is not a destination, it is a continuing journey!
And it is the same with life. If you look around you, you will see people who were at one time successful. Why are they not successful now? Simply because they stopped doing what had made them successful in the first place. The outcome of inaction is failure.
Therefore, success is how you define it for yourself. What do you want to achieve with your life? Where do you want to go with your career? What sort of a house do you want to live in? How many children do you want? The answers to these or similar questions are part of your standard against which you measure your progress towards your personal success. If you are progressing towards achieving all that you want, then you are being a success. Continue to achieve to keep the momentum and you will be successful.
The biggest mistake people make when they are looking for success is to compare themselves to others. Do not let this stop you. What is right for one person is not necessarily right for you. You are the one that has to live your life and be happy in it. Therefore make it your own. Success is a personal thing – achieve your own success on your own terms. Measure your success using your own yard sticks, not someone else’s. To your own self be true.
Along the path of business or life, you may make mistakes or you may fail. That’s okay as it is part of the journey towards success. Always remember that though you may fail, you are not a failure; though you may make a mistake, you are not a mistake. In these circumstances, get back up and dust yourself off and try again.
What can you do to gain success? Firstly, study the characteristics of successful people. Then develop a plan so you too can be on your way towards being more successful. Then take the first step by taking action towards your goal. Remember, the result is up to you. It depends on you making the effort so you can get the favourable outcomes. No-one else can do it for you. You make your own luck.
Tags: Business Success, Personal Growth, Personal Success, Self Improvement
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