The Secret Meaning of Success

Meaning of Success

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what
keeps you going"
- Jim Ryun, the American Athlete.

Success is a wonderful word, a wonderful concept. To know the true meaning of success is actually the key step to achieving success.

Often, we define “success” as a favorable result of an undertaking. It is the completion of anything you intended or planned. American Heritage Dictionary says the same thing: “success” is the achievement of what was desired, attempted or planned; success is gaining of fame or prosperity; or a favorable outcome or result.

The meaning of success may come in many forms, depending on what you are looking for or what you want in life. A businessman may have his own definition of success, which is different from a musician’s. A surgeon may see a surgery that went well a success while a businessman may see great profits as a form of success. Indeed, the meanings of success are as numerous as the stars. While success is often referred to creating what you plan it to be, success is also considered a journey. And, like all journeys, it involves an expedition through “calm waters” and in storms to the port of your dreams. A journey is not always a smooth trip. However, if you are persistent and have the courage to go through the “rough way”, then you will succeed.

The success to some people is “making tons of money. Many people also associate success to goals. Once you achieved your goals, you are considered successful. Other people also said success is “satisfying your potentials” and success is “making others jealous”.

But defining success should start with narrowing down our understanding of the word. While accomplishments or goals are often associated to success, there is a difference between the meanings of “success” and “accomplishments”.

Accomplishment refers to the desired results of the action or task that you attempted. The meaning of accomplishment is based on what was planned and expected to happen. But accomplishment is not success. People may accomplish things that they expected to happen or planned to do but that does not mean they achieve “success” in those actions.

Success is beyond daily accomplishment. To most people, it is the outcome of a string of accomplishments that when put together make up a big achievement in like called success. Thus, success is a process or an incessant mastery of strategy until you finally have something work. Seeing success as a “journey” or “process” helps you see prosperity with each little step you take towards your goals. Envision yourself climbing up a ladder. With each careful step you take, you get close to your goal.

Success should start with goal setting. To succeed, a simple strategy is to start where you are right now, and try to observe that is working and not working. Keep trying and experimenting other things until you find the desired results. Use only those that work, and abandon those that don’t. Repeat this procedure and keep on earning a series of accomplishments until you arrive at your goal. A novelist who masters the art of writing and who have little accomplishments everyday by writing at least one page is close to success than a writer who does less. Mastery is another word for success.

Return to What is Success page from Meaning of Success page

Return to Home Page