What is success to you?

When we point to someone and call them a ‘success’, what exactly do we mean? All too often, we mean that they’ve reached a high level of their career and they’re probably making a huge salary.

But what about the person who goes all around the world doing charity work, for a far-from-big wage, and who gets to do everything they wanted to do in life. Can they be classed a ‘success story’……?

What does the word ‘success’ actually mean in your world?

Is it the model set in stone by your parents and grandparents, passed down from generation to generation? Perhaps a steady job, own house, kids.

Or is success in your life having pots and pots of money, a big salary, expensive car and the latest electronic gadgets?

Or indeed, is success something else entirely, all down to your own individual way of thinking? Do you class it in the knowledge that your child/children are happy and content? Do you view yourself as successful because, no matter your financial status, you simply love your life.

All of us want to succeed in life. We have one opportunity, one chance. We want to accomplish something – to feel that in some way, we’ve ‘won’. But it’s easy to get sucked into thinking that we have to succeed on the world’s terms – or other people’s – when, really, we each need to define success for ourselves.

Here is what success is to three entrepreneurs (and it must be said that Lifetime echo their sentiments):

“Success is the ability to do what you love every day. This may sound simple but what you love changes over time and having the ability to change what you are doing to match your passion is true success. This has nothing to do with money, wealth or status as each person has different passions and loves.” – David Hauser.

“Success for me means living how and where I want to, and doing what I’m passionate about.” – Cody McKibben.

“Success is more than just a number in my bank account; it is also measured by the smiles on my clients’ faces, having fun everyday, being ‘kooky’ and the difference I see myself making in the community around me.” – Angela McKeller, founder of Jella Enterprises.

A big bank balance might be nice to look at, but can it ever replace the love of family and friends, or the wonderful sense of satisfaction gained by doing work which you enjoy and which is fulfilling and rewarding? You could be earning an absolute fortune, but end up working 70-odd hours a week in a job you most definitely hate! Is that true success……

Admittedly, there’s no single definition. But in our book success is about living your best life – and only you can say what that means.

It doesn’t matter what your friends or parents or society thinks: defining success is most definitely up to you. Take time to truly think about it.

As the headline at the top of this blog suggests, the meaning of success throws up numerous questions. We’ve raised quite a few here!

Only you have the answer……