Introduction
Success is a word that all the human beings use a number of times during their social life. It is been used, discussed and researched frequently by the social scientists and psychologists. In this world so many people have been trying hard for success, many are achieving success, and others are not fortunate. They are doomed and buried in their endeavors to accomplish success. Many unfortunate have been perusing success for long years, but some are getting it almost suddenly without much hard work. Success is the very concept upon which many wars have been fought between countries and many innocent were killed.
Success to one man may be the dominion over another; to another man it may be his internal gratification. Often we consider the word success as the binary opposite of failure, and success of a person is measured largely based on the failure of someone else. Since all the words are only symbols and meaning is added to it later by general consensus, the word success also gets several meanings according to the context in which it is used.
The meaning of Success
The etymology of the word success says that it is derived from the Latin word ‘successus’ which means ‘an advance, succession, happy outcome’, and it is first recorded in 1586 (*5). The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the term success as “the achievement of a desired aim, or of fame, wealth or social position” (*1). Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary gives the definition “favorable or desired outcome; also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence” (*2) Other dictionaries define success as “The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted [or] The gaining of fame or prosperity” (*3), “An event that accomplishes its intended purpose”, “A state of prosperity or fame” (*4) etc. so, all the dictionary meanings directs us to the meaning that success is achieving something; that may be money, fame or prosperity.
Many of the successful men in the world have endeavored to define the term success. Bessie Stanley defines success as follows:
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction. (*6)
Here Stanley’s definition gives a big list as the parameter of success. Thoreau’s strong belief in self-reliance made him say that “I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. (*6). Thoreau is so much confident about the world and the capability of the human beings to advance steadily in life with their will power. Michel Korda echoes Thoreau when he says “To succeed, we must first believe that we can”. Ralf Emerson also thinks in the same line when he says “Self-trust is the first secret of success” (*6).
As we mentioned earlier, the meaning of success will be different to different people. It comes in many forms with many definitions. What an individual is searching in life, in business, or in business defines success for him. A sports star may have one definition of success, and a house wife staying at home may have quite a different definition. A film director seems to count his success by his film becoming a huge hit in the theatres, and a doctor may consider success from a surgery that succeeded. It largely depends on what perspective of life one has.
But apart from all definitions and quotes, success can be said as something that is formed as the finishing point of all the dreams. All the dreams make its end in success. Success cannot be treated as a mere word. For some people, it is all about fulfilling it in life. In the past, success of a person is counted in terms of his or her growing bank balance only, but today all those old concepts have changed. The all-inclusive materialistic mantras have given way to a holistic and positive attitude to life. Success is counted as a result of the synergy of various factors such as material, economical and spiritual satisfaction.
Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who tried to synthesis a large body of research on the topic, motivation. Maslow’s theories posited a hierarchy of human needs, which was divided into two sections; deficiency needs and growth needs. According to Maslow, the individual is ready to act upon the growth needs only after meeting the deficiency needs. The individual attains self actualization when all his growth needs are fulfilled. Maslow says that self-actualization is the ultimate aim of all the individuals’ life. Maslow’s self-actualization can be seen as another word for success.
Maslow’s self-actualization includes both material and spiritual concepts of success. A general misconception about success is that it encompasses only material prosperity. People think that the shortcut to success is to work hard, make a lot of money, and neglect or negate the inner life. Being successful spiritually doesn’t mean success. Instead, it is only a way to sainthood. Both these thought patterns leads someone to go astray.
Some cultures, for example Ancient Indian Culture, gave importance to spiritual success, and the result was growing poverty in the nation. The modern world with its globalization and modernization spirits gives importance to material success and the result is growing dissatisfaction and insecurity feelings even among these successful people. The ideal successful life is defined by many Ancient Indian philosophers as fullness in the outer, material world with that much fullness in the inner, spiritual world each reflecting, considering and supporting each other. So, an amalgam of these two patterns will give real success to a man.
It is not always what someone achieved decides how successful he or she is. In some cases those who are considered by the society as rich or successful may not consider themselves as successful. Rather than how much one has, it is ones attitude towards what he has decides his level of success. Some people think about their inferior sides only and consider themselves as total failures, however superior they are in other areas. A rich man having all the abundance in life may be thinking sadly about his children who are not brilliant enough to manage his wealth, or he may be worrying about his poor health. This is a peculiarity of the human mind. He will not be satisfied with anything in life. So, in this way no one will be labeled as successful.
From the experience of those who were successful in life, modern success trainers have deduced many tips to become successful in life. The first step to become successful in life is to identify ones heartfelt needs versus fantasies. Then focus on one thing at a time, and always be willing to admit need. One should show a strong commitment to accomplish that need. The next step is to prioritize the needs. One way to prioritize ones needs is to make a list of the things that one may do if one has only two days to live. Then think logically and set up a time limit for the most important things in the list.
Using visualizations of the set goals will increase the rate at which enthusiasm is generated in the mind. Cutting pictures related to the goals and putting them on the pin up board will help to boost enthusiasm. This enthusiasm changes the whole body chemistry, breaking down all mental blocks. Having a staunch belief in God will help to achieve goals and to be successful. One should have a willingness to receive ever without doubting ones worthiness is a quality that one should cultivate in their lives. Always ask to oneself “what should I do today to ahead towards my goal”. This conversation with one’s heart will help to create a strong mental energy to be successful in the deeds that one is involved in. The final tip for success is to surrender one’s little self to the true self, and go on with the plan.
Conclusion
Whatever definitions the word success has, or whatever ways are there to achieve it, true success is the achievement and realization of a valuable ideal that your heart has desired for and is connected to. It can be called as ones birth passion or success passion. People often tend to die for such passions. This is why some people explode out and do their maximum and come back successfully in life, and some others struggle all their life for it without any achievement. These two categories are operating two different spheres of success and action. Success is double and highly spirited when it is filled with emotion, boosted by passion, controlled by destiny and created with the fire of the heart. So, there is no success like the success where the heart is connected to it with the flames of passion.
Citations
- *1. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997.
- *2- Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary. Web.
- *3- TheFreeDictionary. Web.
- *4- Worldweb Online. Web.
- *5. Online etymology dictionary. Web.
- *6 Web.