What is Success?

[ source: http://www.TheSuccessAdmiral.com/blog ] As I’m sitting here watching the lightening illuminate the sky and listening to the sound of thunder as it echoes through the night, I’ve come to a moment of clarity on what success really is. Through my many years of study, research and exploration of success, many people have offered their opinion, ideas and thoughts on the subject. By studying many of the past greats I have learned the great feats, impressive goals and accomplishments they have achieved, their persuasion on history and all those whose lives they have touched. I’ve talked with many who have achieved truly impressive results, interviewed them on what it took them to get to where they are today, and what they believed success really was. Then I read different books on the subject. Some of the authors may not have achieved what others might consider remarkable lives, but have the most grounded definition of success that it made me wonder why they were not successful. And then it hit me. Success is what you believe it is. Success is the definition as you create it. Let me explain. I’ve heard people explain that success was creating, being with, loving and living with family. Nothing else could determine success more than a person who has a great and loving family. Then I’ve had people explain to me that success was being healthy, eating right, having a healthy blood pressure, heart rate and living without disease. To them, that was the definition of success. Yet I can turn to many books in my library and read about a lot of people, especially those of us in North America, who talk about success as being rich and having power over others – this has become the American Dream and the defining characteristic of success for most of the western world. So who is right? Which definition is accurate? Is there another definition that defines success better than these? Well the answer is – no one definition is right, and no one definition is wrong. Confused? The answer is coming, I promise. When I browse the internet and search for success, Answers.com, “Success,” Answers Corporation, http://www.answers.com/topic/success (accessed April 12, 2009) lists the following set of definitions. Success:

• The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted: attributed their success in business to hard work.
• The gaining of fame or prosperity: an artist spoiled by success.
• The extent of such gain.
• One that is successful: The plan was a success.
• Obsolete. A result or an outcome.

Three of the above definitions describes someone who has achieved a desired, planned or attempted goal in the form of a result or outcome, and the other defines one who is a success. Using the above definition, any goal you desire, plan to achieve, and then take action on is the creation of success. Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? But this non-specific outcome is what causes controversy between so many trying to figure out what success looks like, and what the ultimate reality of success is. Because financial success is so easy to measure, let’s explore an example using money. If I give you $100,000 for completing a task that takes you 30 days to complete, is that success for you? It would probably depend on who you are, and what your reality or definition of success is. If you currently only make $50,000 per year, then making $100,000 in 30 days might be a successful outcome for you. However, if you’re Donald Trump, and you make only $100,000 in 30 days, you may not consider this a success by any means, and instead you may perceive this as being a total failure. Hopefully this illustrates the uniqueness of how people define success depending on their current reality and where they are in life. A successful outcome tends to embody the accomplishment of a goal that is greater than your current life’s achievements. In most cases, when you have achieved your intended goal, you will experience feelings of excitement, energy and happiness. Your emotions act as a feedback mechanism, and like a compass, they show you that you are going in the right direction. Exte al Judgement of Your Success Something else that is important to discuss how others judge may your personal accomplishments and achievements of success. As the above example shows us that you will define success based on your experiences in life, and what you have achieved, others will have had different experiences in their life, having their own unique accomplishments, and will therefor define success differently. Let me explain. I’ve been an amateur, competitive, natural bodybuilder for over 10 years now. I’ve won many trophies. Some were for 1st place, some overall, some for best poser, etc…. But let me ask you a question. When I won the 1st place trophy did that mean that I was the best? Did it mean that I was the best in my city, country or the world? I don’t think so. I think it meant that based on what the judges defined as the most successful physique, compared to all persons who entered into that specific contest, that I scored the highest marks, compared to all other competitors in my class, and ultimately I won a 1st place trophy. Is this true success? What I’m trying to point out is that when others are judging your results, you are now subjecting yourself, and your individual success, to their personal definitions – and your definition really doesn’t matter for whoever gets the 1st place trophy is then publicly defined, and usually accepted, as the best. But what about the person who didn’t get a trophy, yet lost over 150 lbs to get themselves into the same weight class that I competed in? What if it was their first time competing? Are they successful? Do the judges take their level or experience, or their personal starting point into consideration? Unfortunately no. The reason is because the judges can only see the end results we have produced, not the most important aspects which are the achievements we have accomplished along the way before getting on stage. The judges do not see all of the intense training in the gym, the sweat, determination, discipline, dieting, posing, and practice that it took to prepare for the moment of judgment. Instead, they compare each person based on their outcome and what is presented in one moment – which has nothing to do with where the person came from and what they have accomplished to be on stage that day. I believe that everyone who steps on stage is successful, for not only getting up on that stage in the first place, but for achieving the change and growth they have each accomplished along the way – especially for those of us who are competing naturally. I understand that due to the cost of testing, each organization does not have the means to test for illegal substances. With this in mind, are we all competing on an even and level playing field? Certainly not. Is this fair. Without a doubt no, but is anything in life really fair? Just because others are doing things we do not believe in, or cannot do ourselves for whatever reason, remember, success is what we personally define, and our accomplishment to grow from where we are to the achievement of our goal, is what success really is. I hope you see the above as a metaphor for what happens in everyday life. Remember, your definition of success will change – and it should change. The more you desire something different, plan to make the outcome a part of your life, and then take action to turn your dream into physical reality, your definition of success will also continue to grow, change and evolve with you. May your definition of success change rapidly, frequently and continuously as you achieve an outstanding life through your greatest dreams and desires. May You Live With Success & Happiness! Adam Aulenbackr The Success Admiral™ www.TheSuccessAdmiral.com Helping Achievers Create Success & Happiness