Success and Ralph

Technically, defining success is easy. When you look it up in your dictionary it says it is "the achievement of something planned or desired." Got it? End of story? Not quite.



Who cares what the dictionary says... what exactly is your definition of success? Before you can achieve success, you need to describe what success means to you. Unless you’ve a focused vision of what success is for you, you cannot work toward it.



Success means different things to everyone. For some, financial reward is the measure of success. Others have numerous definitions of success; they measure it across a few areas: career, health, spiritual, emotional, time, or financial. For example, one can achieve success in their career but not emotionally.



To obtain your own definition of success, you need to dig deep within yourself and question your values in life. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are the ones that are vital to you? By answering these questions you may then come closer to your definition of success. Know that this could be an extended process. You might not get the answers so quickly, but that’s alright. Define your measure of success, 1 element at a time.



Let’s take your career just as one example. What would your definition of success be in your career? If you are an agent, is it achieving the next level of promotion? As an SGA, is it financial prosperity and security? What’s success to a Public Relations Professional? Dig deep inside yourself to determine your personal strengths and weaknesses. Which might assist you to achieve success? Which of your weaknesses is a barrier, and does it go against your values?



To me, I value time with my family, however, my work requires me to work many nights and weekends. I need to adjust my own definition success and decide which would take priority.



When defining your success, remember this main thing: success is really a journey. It has multiple peaks and never 1 ultimate pinnacle. One success builds on another. Setbacks and mistakes will also allow you to build success. At different periods of your life, success is defined differently. In your career, your success can be defined by exceeding your job requirements or obtaining a promotion or a specific income level.



Among my definitions of success in my career at this time is the number of people on my team that I mentor to higher levels within the Company. Once they achieve a certain degree of skill and knowledge and are respected by you, I have achieved a major quantity of success as far as my very own career is concerned.



It is sort of intense, but examines how Ralph Waldo Emerson defines success:

"The definition of success - To laugh much, to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."



Now I have to admit that I’ve heard of Ralph Waldo Emerson. But I do not know much about him, and for sure have not read a large amount of his stuff. But Ralph’s definition... I could not agree with more. Good job, Ralph!

In any event, you can see success is actually in the eye of the beholder. It takes on both short-term and long-term achievements and may be significant or even insignificant. But it is what you are making it to be. Set a goal, achieve a goal... and be successful!