Ever Wondered what is “success”? We hear this term “Success” and want this to happen in our lives. Many of us aspire to it and some have it.

Time and again we think what exactly is this? Is this something to be defined in monetary terms? Is this to be defined in non-monetary terms?

When you see someone with a lot of wealth, a good house, a beautiful car and enjoying a lot of parties, you say him successful.

Many times you yourself say to self- I want to be successful. Even though you might be earning good amount of money to save and expend, still you do not say to yourself that you are successful.

As a student, you dream of a luxurious house, a car and wealth as the success. Time and again your definition changes and you keep on thinking Is this success?

When you see a person with a lot of wealth but unable to give time to his family, you say he is successful in professional life but in personal life, he is unable to give time to kids. So what exactly is this success?

Somerset Maugham was the most celebrated author of all times. He had a lavish house with many servants working for him. He used to write for many hours in a day. His eyes in the later stages could not read the small letters of a book and he had read books with a bigger font only.

During the later stage of his life, his nephew asked him the secret to the success of being a highly paid author.

He said to him “You have everything in life and had been the most successful. How did you do that.”

Somerset Maugham said- there is a quote in the bible which says – “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose your own soul.”

Let’s understand success from what it is not.

  1. It is not about working for money and money only.
  2. To think of everything in professional terms and personally, there is nothing.
  3. About having a lot of wealth but none to share that with you and nothing to contribute.
  4. Living in a beautiful house but no one to live with you.
  5. Sitting in a beautiful luxurious car but no one to sit with you.
  6. Having money to expend in a 7-star hotel but not having friends with you.
  7. Earning day in and day out but not having the good health with you.

 

Successful people have defined success as:

 

1. SUCCESS IS WELLBEING, WISDOM, WONDER, AND

    GIVING

The most successful website Huffington post’s co-founder Arianna Huffington says – To define success, money, and power are not enough.

There is a third metric in addition to money and power. The third metric is four pillars – Well-being, Wisdom, Wonder, and giving.

2. SUCCESS IS A SMILE ON YOUR FACE IN THE MORNING

According to Billionaire investor Marc Cuban – You do not need money to be successful.

Being successful is all about having a smile on your face in the morning and saying “it will be a great day.”

He believes he was more successful when he was poor living with 6 guys in a three-bedroom apartment and sleeping on the floor. Thus, success is a smile on the face with happiness.

 

3. SUCCESS IS SATISFACTION AND LOVE

Legendary basketball coach John wooden defines success as “Satisfaction”.  He focuses on competing with himself, not with another person. In A Ted Talk in 2001, he said: “Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you’re capable.”

The legendary Investor Warren Buffet defines success in terms of relationships. The Chairman of Berkshire Hathway defines success as “I measure success by how many people love me.” According to him, it is all about love.

Acclaimed author Maya Angelou who passed away at 86 in 2014, believed that success is about enjoying your work

She always focused on defining success as liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

 

4. SUCCESS IS MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates defines success as making an impact on the society

With a net worth of more than $86 Billion, For him, it is not the money but the relationships and leaving a legacy behind. He always felt successful when he made a difference whether it was an invention or raising kids or even helping someone in need.

The former President of the USA Barack Obama narrates success as the change in people’s lives. Even though he was the president he never advocated power with success.

In a democratic convention in 2012, His wife former First Lady Michelle Obama told her husband that he started his career by turning down high-paying jobs. Instead, he focused to help people in struggling neighborhoods. According to Barrack Obama Success is not about the money you make. It is the difference you make in people’s lives.

 

5. SUCCESS IS CONSTANT GROWTH

Spiritual teacher, Physician, and author Dr. Deepak Chopra define success as a matter of constant growth.

In his book “Seven spiritual laws of success”, he says “Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.”

 

6. SUCCESS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL

Popular author Stephen Covey defines success as deeply individual.

He is the author of the best-seller “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” which sold 25 million copies.

He always advocated defining success-define and thinking about what people will say about you during the funeral experience.

 

CONCLUSION:

Success is all about your personal satisfaction. It doesn’t matter how much money you have in your bank account.

What matters is how much happy you are with your life, work and relationships.

It is all about how much impact you are able to make in society.

One real indicator of success is happiness. If You are happy and satisfied with your work, self, and life you are the most successful person on this earth.

If this article has changed your definition of success, comment and share your views.

Also, share with someone with whom you want to change the definition of success.