What is Success and How Do We Achieve It?

So far, the best definition I have come across is: "Success is the completion of anything intended." In other words success is finishing what you planned to do.
Even robbing a bank is a kind of success if that is what you wished to do. However, you probably did not intend to end up in prison!
The above definition of success shines a light on failure and success. Make a plan and follow it and you will have succeeded. Make a plan and do not follow it and you will have failed.
This gives a yard stick for judging every day of our lives. We can say at the end of the day "I have failed" or "I have succeeded."
I asked several people what they thought success was. One person said that "Success is making loads of money." Another said that success is "Achieving your goals". Some one else said that success is "Fulfilling your potential". An interesting answer was that success is "Making others jealous".
Brian Tracy agrees with the connection between success and goals. He has said "Success is goals, and all else is commentary." Tracy believes that people with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them.
Stuart Goldsmith in "The Midas Method" has an important section on how to set goals so that they are achieved using the full power of the subconscious mind.
Maria Nemeth gives this definition of success: "Doing what you said you would do, with ease".
"Doing what you said you would do" is currently not achieved by the majority of the human race especially politicians! Doing it with ease is achieved by even fewer and requires making the most of the subconscious mind.
"Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going"
Another brilliant quote is:
Albert Einstein
The next quote says more or less the same thing:
"If we do put that effort in we usually win anyway".
Michael Angier has a great definition of success.
"Success is the result of steadily taking action on our most important goals. When we consistently focus our energies and our efforts upon what matters most, we can't help but be successful".
Angier also admires Ralph Waldo Emerson's comments on success:
What are the causes of failure and success?
Faith in one self is a huge part of success. Stuart Goldsmith in "The Midas Method" talks about two kinds of belief that are necessary for success. You must believe that you deserve to succeed and you must believe that you have the ability to succeed.
Another big cause of success is discipline.
Another cause is the willingness to try to succeed even if the possibility of success is remote.
Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) American Writer
It does not matter if you are 72 - grab hold of your dream. Actually visualize your hand holding on to that dream. Too many people are worn down by life and give up their dreams.
There is nothing you can't do. If you can't swim 10 lengths without a rest, train for a few months and you will be able to swim 50 lengths.
It is no good saying I want to be Governor of California but I don't want to do any public speaking or travel on the campaign trail or be friendly to thousands of people you don't like. You have to pick up babies and smile at people you may not like.
If you want to be rich you have to do those things which will make you rich. It's no good saying "I don't really want to do it." Danny gives himself a virtual smack round the head every time he is tempted to give up on his projects.
Many successful people stress the importance of action in achieving success.
Michael Masterson of the Ezine "Early to Rise" writes:"Action is the key to success, and failure to act is the reason most people will never achieve the kind of success they dream about"
Donna's best memory of Elvis was when she was 18 and she spoke to him one on one. He asked her about her plans for the future and told her she could achieve anything she wanted "so long as you have faith in God;have faith in yourself; work hard and never let anyone tell you, you can't do something".
Peter Vidmar explains how he achieved success at the Olympic Games:
"There's only two things I had to do to win the Olympic gold: Train when I wanted to, and train when I didn't."
Another quote I like is concerned with the kind of success which depends on people liking your work or product. Don't worry about whether they will like your work. Just do your best and leave the liking or disliking up to them.
"Success has a simple formula: 'Do your best and people may like it'".
Sam Ewing
Any success involves some kind of cost; usually some boring work is involved as suggested in the following quote. The word 'drudgery' sums this kind of work up exactly. Almost any kind of business involves marketing and marketing is the last thing many businessmen enjoy doing.
"Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours".
Orison Swett Marden, 1850-1924.
"The biggest secret of success in life is: You don't have to get it right; you just have to get it going. Perfectionism can kill success. We never get going because we are always waiting to get everything just right. Instead, let's get going."
One success breeds another. Bobby Robson, now over 70, is one of Britain's most successful managers. He should know what creates success. He recently commented about his team's performances:
"Success breeds success"
This makes sense. Write one successful book and you will have the confidence to write another. A lady over 70 wrote a book about overcoming the pain of arthritis. It was a huge success to her total amazement and made hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not surprisingly she has now written two more books.
Success is a key goal for most people but it helps to have a clear idea of what success means to you. I hope this article will have shed some light on possible definitions of success and provided some ideas about how you can achieve your kind of success. 2500