Definition Of Success

There are many different understandings of what success is. Some relate success to money, others relate success to happiness, but it all depends on the type of person.

 Everyone’s vision of success is different. Wealth, happiness, and fame are all the stereotypical goals of the common person’s so-called “American Dream.” My American dream includes more of the first two aspects than anything else. Happiness is the most important; without happiness, wealth and fame are useless. Without happiness, success cannot exist. If you cannot look at yourself in the mirror and evaluate your own life as a success, then why should anyone else consider you successful? Wealth can contribute to happiness. No matter what anyone says, having more material goods makes your standard of living better, which normally is a direct connection to happiness. Fame, to me, isn’t needed but rather acquired through the life of the successful person. A legacy is more honorable than fame, because after death fame is a more humble characteristic. Changing others lives, after they looked at your life in retrospect, makes fame an irreplaceable part in success.

Webster defines success as “achieving wealth, respect, or fame.” However, my definition of success revolves around much more. Personal success, in my opinion, is achieved by the amount of happiness experienced by others around you. Being the good in an otherwise bad day, bringing a smile to a depressed face, or encouraging someone around you to try something new are all ways I feel triumphant.

In my eyes, success can have a variety of different meanings. I believe success comes within a person and their dreams. It doesn't have to mean you're the richest person or have the biggest house. I believe in a more humbling success. In other words, success displays one who has reached his own personal goals and is happy and content with the outcome of the chosen goals.

Everyone has his own definition of success. For some, success means wealth, power or fame; but for me it means attaining my goals, always giving my best and knowing that I have tried my hardest despite the outcome. Success is not something that reveals itself immediately, it takes time and patience. I would not be the person I am today if I hadn’t received the love and support given to me by my mom and my grandparents. They taught me respect, the importance of family and to believe in myself. Success is about living my best life and being confident about my own decisions.

Merriam-Webster defines success as the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame; the correct or desired result of an attempt; someone or something that is successful; a person or thing that succeeds. The definition of success differs from one person to another. Most people work their whole lives to accomplish their own personal success, in which, everyone views differently. Success among many individuals can be connected with The American Dream, the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through work, determination, and initiative.

Success is one of those words that does not have a uniform definition that can apply to every circumstance. Success can mean plenty of things; to someone who started out with nothing and gained little, they would see themselves as successful. On the other hand, someone who started off with plenty can have a different idea of success from the person who started with nothing. I am one of those people who started off with nothing; my parents and I immigrated to the United States from Nigeria and to my family back in Nigeria, I am very successful. Yet I see myself doing much more; my definition of success may change over time, but there is one thing that I expect to have in all my ideas of success: Being so successful that your success rubs off on other people who need it.

The dictionary may have a set definition for the word “success”, but every individual has his or her own interpretation of what may make something or someone successful. Money, status, and power all initially come to mind, but success is not entirely about an end result of monetary rewards. At High Point University, students are taught to value the motivation and determination behind being successful, and how being successful must also be satisfying. There must be a passion and drive behind all that a person chooses to be and accomplish. Furthermore, the end result must be a life of significance. The opportunities I have been presented with as a first-year student are meant to guide me to achieve just that, and I intend on taking full-advantage of all this campus has to offer.

Wealth, fame, and respect are synonyms used for success, however; such meanings feel incomplete. I on the other hand, believe that success is having the energy to remain focused on small goals and having them amount to something greater. Both of my parents immigrated to America with a third grade education, yet their diligence towards setting daily goals of different caliber has turned them into successful people. Seeing their struggle and perseverance first hand has influenced me to set goals for myself and carve a path of my own.

Success in an ideal that varies from person to person. While most people may believe that success is owning a big house, owning multiple cars, or having lots of money, that is not true for many people. For example, a soccer players’ success may be winning an international title, a singer might feel successful after winning a Grammy. To me, success is fulfilling a long-term goal which for some people may be money and material items. However, my ideals of success revolve around my happiness and that of those around me, some of my successes will include graduating college and getting a job that pays well, or living a healthy balanced life, I also feel success when helping others achieve their own successes.

The definition of success may vary depending on who you ask. many believe that the only way to succeed is to have a lot of money; however, there others that believe just having a roof over your head when going to sleep would be considered successful. I am one of those believers. I believe if you have a bed to go sleep at night, food on the dinner table, a healthy family you are considered successful. Every American would love to live the “American dream” which considers a well-paying job, a beautiful house and an amazing family. Happiness is a big factor where I got my definition from. People strive to achieve their goals and when they do reach their goals they become a happy person. No matter what their goal maybe as long as they complete

Success. What is success? If it to you it means simply,” to achieve the goals one sets out to accomplish,” then you may think similar to my good friend Jonny. Or you could be like my game crazy friend Beebe and define it as,” how many head shots [he] can get in one round.” Either way I guess you would be correct. However, I feel like more and more people are starting to believe the Webster dictionary version “of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.” Not that this is a bad thing but people like my parents generation are starting to think this version of success is college degrees and good paying jobs.

Most dictionaries define success as ‘the attainment of popularity or profit.’ However, the meaning of success is different for everyone. For an average teenager, success may simply mean obtaining a college degree and getting a job, whereas for the children in Africa, it may mean to obtain clean water, food, and shelter. Success cannot be defined by ‘popularity’, ‘wealth’, or ‘superiority’; it is defined by happiness, which can only be accomplished by pursing one’s passions, to obtain respect, and being compassionate.

Success can be defined as the accomplishment of one’s goals. A large portion of one’s life is spent working to become successful. For some, success is measured by wealth or the happiness one feels when thinking of there achievements. To succeed in life, people must endure the challenges life present and aspire to overcome the challenges in everyday life. Different people may have different interpretations of what success is but, success is much greater than the amount of money you have or the amount of friends you have, it is the result of diligence and determination.

Everyone interprets success slightly differently than to everyone else. For example, I asked my Nanny what her definition of success looks like, her response was “Success is achieving something that you go all out in. Something you want for your future.”. I asked my Grandad the same question and he responded with “success can be your own personal goals in business or function of your family.”.