Definition of Success

“You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.”

—unknown

What is your definition of success? Most people dream of being successful but do you really know what you define as success? Is it having money in the bank, a fine home, a fancy car, an important job, or a loving and supportive family? Or, is it perhaps all of the above?

Success for me used to mean the money, the house, the car, the job, all the trappings of stress. The desire to feel and act as though I was really important. The need to have the latest of everything so that everyone would be impressed. There’s nothing wrong with this definition of success but I had a deep down nagging feeling that I hated it all and something just wasn’t right.

At one point I was so miserable that I used to have panic attacks and cry just at the thought of leaving the house to go to work. Then when I was on the road, I’d be so sick to my stomach and shaking so badly that I didn’t know if I could make it to work safely. Ah, but by all appearances I was very successful.

Define Success

But now, I’ve learned to define success much differently. Success to me is more about having freedom. The freedom to do the things I love. My writing, spend time with my wife of 41 years, whom I love more today than ever, walk my dog, have a long lunch with friends. Doing those kinds of things makes me feel as though I’ve arrived.

But for a very long time (and before I really understood) success eluded me. I spent a great deal of time resisting it. Several years ago, I had a friend ask me why I didn’t write full time. Of course, this was well before I did.

He asked me if it was because I thought I’d never make it as a writer. After I considered that for a few moments I realized the truth, I was afraid, but not of failing, people do that all the time. I was afraid I’d be successful at it.

And once you’re really successful at something people expect more of you. So it’s my very humble opinion that most people fail simply because it’s easier than succeeding. And, because they have no clue how to allow success.

Allow Success

You’ll also want to develop a plan to stop allowing others to define success for you. If you continue to have the need to keep up with the “Insta Influencers,” you’ll spend far too much time defining success on their terms and never on own your own.

But, if you can devise a plan, success will come easily and effortlessly. Now by that I don’t mean you just sit around eating bonbons waiting for your ship to come in. You at least have the make the effort to go to the dock to meet it.

Easily and effortlessly means taking creative action. You’ll be setting goals and working toward something you truly want and desire. Therefore, it won’t seem like ‘work.” The important thing is not to worry about the details. Simply focus on the end result and continue to work diligently toward your goal.

Because you feel passionate about it, you’ll look forward to getting up every morning and doing what’s required to make success happen for you. And if you take these steps and learn to believe without a doubt, your success will come much sooner rather than later.

4 Steps to Success

For more on the steps you can take to create success in your life download my e-book Passion. Purpose. Persistence! Setting Yourself Up For Success.