It may take a good amount of time to sort out your priorities when you define what success means. Don’t worry, take your time. If you haven’t filled in the above space yet do it now! Don’t cheat yourself!
Who is successful?
Bob is a 32-year old store assistant. His wife Anne is 30 years old and works in the administrative section at a small local firm. They live in their small suburban cottage with two children. Bob leaves his shop at 6 pm every evening and is greeted by his wife at the door with a kiss and a hug.
Bob finds time to play games with his children and every night reads them a story. Despite financial constraints the family goes on a vacation every year. They spend a lot of time together.
Another case.
Mary Jane is a 28-year old single woman. Her job as a Financial Analyst enables her to maintain a posh apartment in the City and own a Lexus. She could afford a holiday anywhere in the world, though she rarely goes out of the City if it’s not on an official trip.
Her hectic workload seldom allows Mary Jane to reach home before 7 pm or to go out for a party. Lack of socialization often gives her a feeling of loneliness, though she believes that the money makes up for it. She is ready to put aside her personal feelings for a career that gives her enough money and social status.
Okay, the question now is who do you think is successful of the two – Bob or Mary Jane?
If you are a teenager you would have selected Jane without doubt. She maintains a great lifestyle, has a good job and plenty of money.
If you are older and yearn for contentment in life, then you would probably select Bob, the happier one with a contented and fulfilled life.
Compare your selection with the definition you have written in the box above. You can see that your selection and your definition have a lot in common.
A person defines success on the basis of a number of factors. And you are no exception.
Your definition of success is formed by:
- Your upbringing
Everyone perceives things on the basis of the values he or she has learned in the childhood.
- Your beliefs
Beliefs, deep-rooted in your mind, affect the way you perceive things.
- Trait
A particular characteristic that distinguishes you or that is genetically determined may influence the way you perceive things.
- Your attitude
Everyone has an opinion or general feeling about everything.
- Your peers
You family, friends, colleagues or whoever you maintain a constant contact with can influence the way you perceive things.
- Society
It is an important factor that has more influence than many of the rest.
- Every experience that you have in life
Small or big, each and every experience in your life influences the way you perceive things.
All the factors mentioned above, more or less, contribute to what success means to you.
There is a myth that states that people are born winners or born losers.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Nobody is born just to win or lose. The way you live your life makes you a winner or loser.
As Benjamin Disraeli puts it, “The secret of success is constancy to purpose.” Using some techniques and methods and improving your attitude, behaviour and personality can lead you to destination called success.
More often than not, you are responsible for what you get from life.
Even a single sensible timely step can change the entire scenario. You need to sense what the situation demands and act accordingly.
Nothing is worse than looking back after some years and saying “I wish I had done this.”
Know where you are going in life
Setting goals is something everybody does regularly. However, few find it in them to go through the plans they set. You need to know where you are going and constantly check and make sure that you are moving in the proper direction.
Creating a vision and a mission statement of what you want out of life will provide you with some direction and momentum to move forward. It can act as a catalyst in accomplishing your task.
What is your life all about?
Different people look at life in entirely different ways. While some people let things happen to them, others go out and make things happen. It’s very important to have an understanding of which group you belong to.
If you are driven by a compelling vision, you have a greater chance to feel good about yourself.
If you have a true mission, you have a better chance to know where you are going in your life. |