What is Success and how to achieve it

To one person, success could be defined as having a million dollars in the bank account. To another, it may be having the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere in the world without being bound by a restrictive 9 to 5 corporate working environment or to have enough free time to enjoy with family and friends. To another, it could mean the attainment of a position of power. The fact is, all of these could be true.

‘Success’ means something different for everyone and it is whatever you perceive it to be for you. 

In simple terms, success is the sense of satisfaction and reward for a job done well. So, you could say, success is what happens when you achieve a goal or dream. 

How can we achieve Success?

Less than 10 percent of people in the world achieve their full potential or reach their dreams in life because they lack the self-discipline and focus to do whatever it takes to get there.

The truth is there is no limit to what we can achieve in this life. The only limitation to our success is us, ourselves! Our ability to overcome our fears and self-limiting beliefs that paralyze us and prevent us from taking action…So, we need to stop the inner dialogue and just get up and do it…! And that takes self-discipline!

Remember this – we need to do a bunch of things we don’t want to do, to be able to do a lot of the things we do want to do!

People naturally take action when they feel they have a higher chance of success but less so when they fear possible failure. The higher the chance of having “bad” results, the riskier the action becomes, and the less likely they are to take it. If we want to be successful, we need to do more of the stuff that scares us and is uncertain. We need to overcome the self-imposed barriers and change our belief in our self. Ultimately our belief determines our action and our action determines our results, whether good or bad. If we want a positive result – ie success, then we need to have a positive belief in our self and the outcome.

Thomas Edison was credited with inventions like the first incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and motion picture camera among countless other inventions and patents. There really isn’t much we do today that doesn’t have some relationship to Thomas Edison. He operated on the principal that success was not something that came by chance or accident but rather through sheer determination, hard work and perseverance.

Thomas Edison said this about success:

 “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

“There is no substitute for hard work.”

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

I find these quotes quite inspirational because it means that everyone has the potential ability for success in their lives – Whatever that success may mean for them. If we work consistently towards our goals and visions in life without giving up, then eventually we can achieve success. This probably sounds oversimplified and of course it is, but essentially it is also true.

According to Thomas Edison, his success didn’t come from being a genius, or being gifted in some way or being extraordinary, it came from being committed and determined and never giving up.  When it didn’t work the first or the second or the third time, he would modify, adjust and try again.

There is another important factor to consider when talking about success, which is this.  Many of the people we may regard as being successful in life, individuals like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg started out their journey’s by understanding that they were part of something bigger than themselves, that they were needed and had something better ahead to work for. Their goals were not internally focused but rather about the improvement of humanity in general.

They were bound by a duty and desire to add value to the world around them. Their ambition for success was not driven by a desire for their own financial gain but by a passion for their work and a desire to solve important problems that would benefit humanity in general.  Wealth was a bi-product of their success, it was not the primary goal.

We should avoid making money the primary goal or indicator of success, rather it should be a natural bi-product of our success in achieving that which we have set out to achieve.

Below is a simple 7 step process to achieving success:

1. Have clarity on what success means for you. What is your vision or set of goals that you want to achieve and how will you go about achieving them? 

2. Learn to overcome your fears and self-limiting beliefs

3. Develop Self Discipline

4. Do daily visualization and meditation of your goals

5. Become Resourceful and do the necessary research

6. Focus on adding value to the lives of others

7. Work consistently towards your goals and vision, and never give up. When you fail, get up and start again, modify, adjust, and learn from your mistakes. Keep moving and keep evolving & develop a growth mindset