What Is Success?

Success is a concept that drives all of us. We search for this destination through our ambitions, our relationships, our home businesses and all areas of our lives. If we want to reach this objective we must understand what it is, how it is measured and how it is achieved. Our success is dependent on the road that we travel to discover it.

Webster says that success is “a favorable outcome” or “something having a favorable outcome” or “the gaining of wealth, fame, etc.” or “accomplishing something planned or tried”. These descriptions are too general to define the meaning of success. The best way to understand this concept is by asking ourselves “What is success?” Our perceptions will define our meaning. It is really that simple. How we interpret this idea will dictate the direction we choose to find it.

We have been influenced by our cultural concept of success since we were young. Most of us have been taught: Success = Results. Here are some added ingredients to this idea: Your Perception + Your Measurement + Your Results = Your Success.

Thomas Edison said: “I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work”. If we can develop a perception of success that it is not defined by the results, success may be easier to discover. Edison identified his achievement as a commitment to try, to learn and to adapt. What if we applied this attitude to our home business (or any aspect of our lives)? What if we focused more on the commitment than on the result? What if we purposed that the achievement was in the determination not the outcome? Our measurements for success might be more discernable with these perceptions.

Booker T. Washington said “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed”. Have you heard the expression that it is not the destination but the journey? This is a good way to measure our definition of success without needing a result.

We need to convince ourselves that success is measured by the effort not the result. After we spend the day facing the challenges of developing our home business do we feel successful? Do we say that we faced the obstacles and tried our best or are we disappointed with the results? What measurements are we using to gauge our achievements? Edison perceived that his success came from learning through his attempts. Washington measured his accomplishments by the obstacles he overcame TRYING to succeed. Our perceptions and measurements of success will dictate the path we follow to attain it.

Colin Powell said “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure”. This is how we achieve. Prepare. Work Hard. Learn. What happens with this formula is that we are changing during the process. The key ingredient is our willingness to adjust and adapt along the road. Remember our expression it is not the destination but the journey? That should be our focus. We should not concentrate on the results because we will be learning and adjusting. This concept can be applied to all of our attempts for success. Whether it is relationships or home businesses, we will find our accomplishments if we prepare, work hard and learn. The attainment of success depends on our perceptions and measurements.

Will success come if we apply these ideas to our home businesses (or our lives)? If we can learn from the perception of Edison, the measurement of Washington and the achievement of Powell we might travel a better path to success. Remember, it is not the destination but the journey.

“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen”.