What Is Success?
“Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.”
- Robert Collier
(Author and entrepreneur)
Success is a subject that draws wide and varied views. Everyone has their own perspective of what success is and what success for them would mean. What does success mean to you?
Is success being financially well off? That would be the first thought of many people in our consumer driven society. There is a serious imbalance in the distribution of the world’s wealth, whereby approximately 90% of the world’s wealth is held by only 10% of the world’s population. Money can be used to do great things, but the truth is that money has become so many people’s first love in life, at the expense of relationships, morality, justice and health. Some people even go so far as to judge the quality of a person’s life by the amount of money, assets and possessions they have. Money becomes a serious problem when people are prepared to do anything to obtain money. The love of money has become the root of all kinds of evil in the world, causing corruption, greed, suffering and criminal activity. What does it profit someone to gain the whole world, but lose their very soul?
For some, success is the thrill of beating the competition. Pushing their self to excel in the arena of sports to win a medal, or in business to ensure they are achieving more than their competitors. This can be an adrenaline filled thrill ride, something to enjoy in years to come as they look back on their life, but what are they sacrificing to do it? I have worked alongside business people who have strived so hard, putting in so many additional working hours over a period of years, that they’ve missed their children growing up. I have witnessed first hand sports people who have destroyed the relationships they love the most in pursuit of excelling in the arena. They have succeeded in one area of their life, but failed miserably in others. The right balance between work and life is one of the greatest challenges of modern society.
Perhaps you agree with the definition of success offered by Bessie Anderson, who wrote in 1904:
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.”
For many people, success is simply being happy and contented with their lot in life. For others, it is either about being free from financial worry, having good relationships, looking good, living in a nice home, driving a quality car, being able to take exotic holidays, or being in a position to give generously to help others. You decide. Define what success would be for you and put your best efforts into achieving it. Once you understand what success would be for you, you are one step closer to achieving it.
You can learn all you need to know about how to enhance YOUR levels of success from my book, Have Confidence, Have Success. You can get your copy now, by clicking here. Invest in yourself!
- Robert Collier
(Author and entrepreneur)
Success is a subject that draws wide and varied views. Everyone has their own perspective of what success is and what success for them would mean. What does success mean to you?
Is success being financially well off? That would be the first thought of many people in our consumer driven society. There is a serious imbalance in the distribution of the world’s wealth, whereby approximately 90% of the world’s wealth is held by only 10% of the world’s population. Money can be used to do great things, but the truth is that money has become so many people’s first love in life, at the expense of relationships, morality, justice and health. Some people even go so far as to judge the quality of a person’s life by the amount of money, assets and possessions they have. Money becomes a serious problem when people are prepared to do anything to obtain money. The love of money has become the root of all kinds of evil in the world, causing corruption, greed, suffering and criminal activity. What does it profit someone to gain the whole world, but lose their very soul?
For some, success is the thrill of beating the competition. Pushing their self to excel in the arena of sports to win a medal, or in business to ensure they are achieving more than their competitors. This can be an adrenaline filled thrill ride, something to enjoy in years to come as they look back on their life, but what are they sacrificing to do it? I have worked alongside business people who have strived so hard, putting in so many additional working hours over a period of years, that they’ve missed their children growing up. I have witnessed first hand sports people who have destroyed the relationships they love the most in pursuit of excelling in the arena. They have succeeded in one area of their life, but failed miserably in others. The right balance between work and life is one of the greatest challenges of modern society.
Perhaps you agree with the definition of success offered by Bessie Anderson, who wrote in 1904:
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction.”
For many people, success is simply being happy and contented with their lot in life. For others, it is either about being free from financial worry, having good relationships, looking good, living in a nice home, driving a quality car, being able to take exotic holidays, or being in a position to give generously to help others. You decide. Define what success would be for you and put your best efforts into achieving it. Once you understand what success would be for you, you are one step closer to achieving it.
You can learn all you need to know about how to enhance YOUR levels of success from my book, Have Confidence, Have Success. You can get your copy now, by clicking here. Invest in yourself!