What “The Success” Meant To You

What is the real meaning of success? It can be a matter of great debate. Different people define it differently. For a majority of people achieving professional heights is “success.” For students, securing good grades is “success.” For parents, seeing their kids doing well in life means “success.” So, it is clear that success has different meaning for different people, depending on what is important in their life.

From these simple examples it is clear that for most, achievements are success. Some people want to earn lots of money, so for them success lies in financial returns, while others want to achieve material or professional success, like buying a dream home or becoming a successful entrepreneur.

In reality, success isn’t limited to achieving what you desire, because those could be mere achievements. Success has broader meaning. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin. We gain something with every failure. Even someone who eventually drops out of medical or law school gained a great deal in the process, and should learn to recognize it for the benefit that it is. You are not automatically a looser if you are unable to achieve a specific aspiration. It is a failure, but it is just another stepping stone on the path that leads to ultimate success. Becoming a doctor or a lawyer were likewise mere stepping stones on the path to success—they were never “success” in themselves. The intelligence and education gained in any undertaking, no matter how truncated or ill-fated, will propel us faster toward our ultimate dream if we will employ them appropriately—so even some failure is a form of success.

Have you heard the old saying, "The road to success is always under construction"? It is true for each of us. Even as we attain our intermittent goals, and perhaps even our ultimate dream, our journey doesn’t end until the last breath of life. Success can be defined as "A journey where we have a dream, take action to achieve it, receive inspiration from others, and finally rejoice after achieving it. Once we attain our dream, another takes its place and starts building in our mind, and the same process begins again."

The most important thing to remember is that success is relative to your own circumstances, and what you get out of your goals and how you decide to achieve them is ultimately up to you. Therefore, seeking inspiration and motivation from others’ success is good, but keep in mind that your success is relative, and unique to your dreams and desires. So consider what success means to you, and act to achieve it!