Meaning of Success: A Personal Perspective




Meaning of Success

Oxford Dictionary defines success as “the fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to do or get.” 

Simply put, success is an accomplishment that an individual or a group has been striving to achieve. But the time taken and activities conducted to achieve it can differ from one person to another. Also, the definition of success can vary. For some it could be getting married by the age of 25, for others it can be getting a job, being famous, completing a degree, moving to a new city and so on. There is no one perfect definition of success.

Different Perspectives on Success

Success is subjective and it varies greatly among individuals. I came across an article published in Thrive Global Publication on Medium, titled “25 Definitions of Success from Very Accomplished People” by Lucas J. Robak. The article shares insights from renowned individuals, each with their own perspective on success. Out of 25, I randomly selected a few examples to illustrate how perspectives of success differ:

"I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." – Michael Jordan

For Michael Jordan learning from failure is a success.

"Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives." - Michelle Obama

For Michelle Obama, making an impact on someone’s life more than earning money is a success.

"We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes — understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success." - Arianna Huffington

For Arianna Huffington, accepting failure as a part of success, and understanding that not every decision we make is right is a success.

Similarly another article, “ 6 Notably Successful People Define Success” - by AIFS Abroad also presents the perspectives of success from some significant people in the world, here are few of them:

“To me, the definition of success is waking up in the morning with a smile on your face, knowing it’s going to be a great day. I was happy and felt like I was successful when I was poor, living six guys in a three-bedroom apartment, sleeping on the floor.” – Mark Cuban

For Mark Cuban, being happy and positive about each day is a success.

“It is also nice to feel like you made a difference — inventing something or raising kids or helping people in need.” – Bill Gates

For Bill Gates, the feeling that you get after making a difference in someone’s life is a success.

Therefore, being famous and wealthy can be a success for some, but it is not universal. For others, it can be personal fulfillment, growth and impact.

What Success Means to Me

I believe that the definition of success can change as we grow. When I was 16, completing secondary education was a success for me. Then when I turned 18, completion of higher secondary was a success. Likewise, now I am 24, and completing my degree is a success. And now, being able to publish a blog and learning new things about blogging every week is a success. Our definition of success evolves with time, circumstances, and personal growth. 

While these external milestones have defined success for me at different stages, I've recently come to realize that true success lies in inner peace. Having a calm mind is and will be a greater success for me above everything. I have understood one thing that a calm mind leads to clearer thoughts, and that ultimately pushes me towards the smaller and/or bigger achievements that I want to achieve in my life. 

So, if someone asks me the definition of success, then I would say “Having a calm mind and ability to think clearly.” 

What does success mean to you? Does your perspective align with the examples I have provided, or is it different? 

Would love to hear your perspective on the meaning of success in the comment section below! Also, there is no single right answer, because everyone’s journey is different!


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