How do you define success? Or, do you determine it?

Question

I am interested examining the preferences of people. I'm interested in the preferences of all people, and not just people who are already successful as opposed to those who are striving to be successful.

I would like to know how you determine success? That is, how do you know if you are being successful, or not?  Or, how will you know if you have "arrived?"

We all want to achieve a certain measure of success. Why not?  Some of us equate success as intrinsic for survival, whether that success if found at home with family, or away from home at work - at the job. Ron Cordes, founder of the Cordes Foundation, has defined success as " . . . fully live your purpose in life, and to leave an enduring legacy of having made a difference in the world."  What do you think of that definition?

Winston Churchill said that success was going from "failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." Perhaps he was aiming at optimism, or something deeper inside us.

A soldier I met while in Afghanistan cut right to the chase. For him, success was returning "home alive."

Richard Branson said about success “It is the satisfaction of doing it for yourself and motivating others to work with you in bringing it about. It is about the fun, innovation, creativity with the rewards being far greater than purely financial.”

You’ve been involved with real estate investments for some time, even if you’ve not closed your first deal yet.  How do you define success? Or, have you determined it?  Either way, how will you know when you've "arrived?"

Michaela G. · Answer

to me the definition of success is fluid.

I do not have a 5-year plan, nor a 1-year plan. I sort of fly by the seat of my pants. But that means that I'm always open to opportunities that may come at me from right or left and change my path.

So, whatever I'm working on - if I get it done, then that's success to me.

Ultimately, underneath we all strive to be happy. Things like money are only tools, 'middle men' so to speak. They may be steps on our imagined way to happiness, but they don't actually make happy. Otherwise you wouldn't see suicides among rich people.

Mayank S. · Answer

People have different definitions of success. For some it's financial/ career/family/health etc. for some its mix of all. You can not define success for anybody other than yourself as it means different things for different people. For me success is multifold in terms of good health, family, relationship, career, finances , business, real estate, community service etc. It the mission in your life that you hold dearly is what makes life worth living for many. We all need to define our mission and purpose in life to determine and measure our success.

Bhekizwe M. · Answer

"Success is a progressive realisation of a worty goal"-Unknown.In REI, the number of units or cashflow show to what extent one has assisted others get housing etc

Russell Naylor · Answer

That is a really arbitrary question. Everyone defines success in different ways. Some its financial stability, others its being a good business person, etc.

I've always defined it by being able to reach my goals, whatever they may be. I'm just starting out, so success for me is to get a small portfolio built, bring in some money, and start building equity. Once I get there, I will redefine goals and move on to the next one.

James DeRoest · Answer

Success is being rich.

It's not about having a great family, or a great wife, its cold hard cash. All this other stuff "I'm successful because I married the best woman on the planet" is just made up excuses by poor people to make them less inclined to blow their brains out. "Success is that I'm happy". Nope, one step from a bottle of pills. "My children", nope just a product of natural behavior. And so forth.

O/T I do dislike the way Richard Branson is lionized as this fantastic businessman, when most of his career is one of failure, starting with a tax fraud when he started with his business career.

Bruce Runn · Answer

I believe success is my ability to be content and fulfilled with my relationships and the work I've developed so I look forward to each day with anticipation.