What is Your Definition of Success?
Success is not measured by what we have. It is about who we are and what we give.
Stop any person on the street and ask them what Success means to them and you will get a myriad of different but similar answers.
Some will say is it an abundance of money. Others might say it is achieving your dreams. Still others will say it is a loving family or a job you love. Some will say it is figuring out Who you really are, or learning to appreciate all of life. Some will say it’s just an attitude you live by. What is success to you?
I recently read an excerpt from “Born to Win! Find Your Success Code” by Zig Ziglar that gives a whole new meaning to success.
I’d like to share it.
(excerpted from his new book, Born to Win! Find Your Success Code)
Here’s a short list of the characteristics of what I believe success isn’t and what I believe success is.
Let’s start with what success is.
What Success Is:
1. Success is knowing that you did a great job when you close the door to your office at the end of each workday and head for home.
2. Success is having a home and people to love who love you in return.
3. Success is having the financial security to meet your obligations each month and the knowledge that you have provided that security for your family in the event of your demise.
4. Success is having the kind of faith that lets you know where to turn when there seems to be no place to turn.
5. Success is having an interest or hobby that gives you joy and peace.
6. Success is knowing who you are, and Whose you are.
7. Success is taking good care of you and waking up healthy each day.
8. Success is slipping under the covers at the end of the day and realizing with gratitude that, “It just doesn’t get much better than this!”
You see from this list that success is more than a one-sentence definition. Success involves the whole person, and if you skimp on one area, you will limit your success in others. Now, let’s take a look at what success isn’t.
What Success Isn’t:
1. Success isn’t missing dinner with the family several times a week because of working excessively.
2. Success isn’t rushing home from work and hiding out with the TV thinking, “After the day I’ve had, I need my space!”
3. Success isn’t about how to make more money when you already have more money than you can spend.
4. Success isn’t about going to church and ignoring everything you hear.
5. Success isn’t all work and no play.
6. Success isn’t about being so busy that you live on unhealthy fast food, served to you through little windows.
7. Success isn’t spending mental energy worrying about late projects, being home on time, your health, missing your child’s school play, being able to pay your bills, or finding joy in your life.
8. Success isn’t texting while you drive to catch up on your overloaded schedule.
Zig Ziglar’s “Born to Win! Find Your Success Code”, compresses four decades of life-changing tools and practices into an inspiring, concise, easy-to-use format for bottom-line people who want to grow and improve the whole spectrum of their life “right now!” Click here to find out more or to purchase your copy of the book.
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You can download a chapter of the book, (or order it) “Born to Win! Find Your Success Code” by clicking on the link above.
I like what he Zig says, “Success involves the whole person, and if you skimp on one area, you will limit your success in others.” Be sure and share your ideas on what Success is to you. We would all love to hear the many thoughts of others. I hope you lay your head on your pillow each night and feel that you can say “I was successful today!”
To Your Success…….
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Hello Lynn!
Excellent read, I must say. Zig Ziglar is truly inspiring and you’ve done a great job of gathering is vast wisdom into a digestible package. I agree, everyone has their own definition of success. Indeed there may be as many answers as there are people. The big ones for more people are money, health, love etc.
Even so, success is multi-faceted. For me, “success” brings up the words achievement and fulfillment. I don’t need to achieve anything to feel fulfilled. Conversely, I can achieve many things in life and still not be fulfilled. So success, in my view, is when you can list all your achievements and are fulfilled by them. This could be for today, this week, past year or life so far.
Srinivas Reddy | Ask Sage recently posted..The Power Of Habit
Lynn, thanks for sharing these words from Zig Ziglar. He’s one of my original mentors in the field of personal growth development. I subscribe to his Words of Encouragement podcast. I truly appreciate his view of balanced success: I believe he learned this the hard way through his own success journey: but he righted the ship and now helps thousands through his speaking and writing.
Steve-Personal Success Factors recently posted..Friendship Thoughts To Enhance Your Life
Nice post Lynn;)
Success is a function of one’s values which can also change from year to year as our values change,
I agree what you say about what success is and what I most like is what success is not!
Thank you Lynn,
Best wishes,
Patricia
Ah, I’m a long time fan of Zig. I recently wrote an article on the definition of success and shared quite a few definitions from various people – some famous, some not so much. One thing is clear, whatever the definition is – it only matters if the one living it believes it to be true for them. It can’t be someone else’s definition of what they should consider success. Thanks for the inspiration!
marquita herald recently posted..Turn Even the Most Unexpected Detour into an Opportunity for Growth
Thanks for the post I didn’t realize that Zig Ziglar had a new book out. I love his work, he is one of the very first personal development teachers I ever followed.
I am printing out the list of “What Success Is:” and putting it up on the wall in my office. Posting it in a place where others who come in for consultation will see it, gonna share the wealth!
Carla McNeil, Social Media Manager recently posted..Social Media Marketing – LinkedIn, Recommendations Are Critical To Your Success on LinkedIn
Success means many things to any individual. It could be a personal one without monetary gain, or one with monetary gain. I like to make sure when someone feels like they have achieved something to congratulate them… no matter how small it may seem to me. It may be something big to that person and every bit of encouragement and support goes a long way.
Nile recently posted..Has Blogging Become A Chore to You?
Thank you Lynn for sharing the quote. I love what Zig says as well … ‘success involved the whole person’… that is a wonderful insight on how personal success is for each of us. And no one should ever impose on another of what success is or isn’t.
Really enjoyed your sharing your awesome insight and beliefs for success. Helpful for those that may not have know that even the little of things can be your biggest success.
Lynn Brown recently posted..Cool Things You Can Do with Video Marketing
Hi Lynn, I was fascinated by that first list
I am to make every day a number 10. A lofty ideal but aiming high is cool with me.
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Hi Lynn
I love your post and i love Zig.
I love every point on Success and it all make sens to me.We all need to be like that and not the wrong kind of success like he say.”Success isn’t rushing home from work and hiding out with the TV thinking, “After the day I’ve had, I need my space!”
Regards
Theuns
Theuns recently posted..The Secret is out – The “It’s All About GrAtiitude!” Project
Me too Theuns….I love Zig. It takes real character to have a servitude attitude after one has worked a long tiring day. The temptation is to zone out instead of enjoy your family or other worthwhile things.
Lynn Jones recently posted..The “It’s All About GrAtitude” Project
Hi Lynn,
thank you so much for sharing this inspiring list about what success is.
Yes, I agree with you that the meaning of success is different for most people.
“6. Success is knowing who you are” is one that I like and I feel finally , later in my life that I know more and more who I am.
Another favorite of mine is the definition from Abraham-Hicks:
“Success is about the Joy we feel.”
Yorinda, I love that…Success is about the joy we feel…..it’s a horrible thing to find what we think is success and not to truly enjoy it and be full of joy within.
Lynn Jones recently posted..The “It’s All About GrAtitude” Project
Hi Lynn,
Most people who commented knows, admires, and respects Zig Ziglar. Thanks for sharing his new book “Born to Win! Find Your Success Code.” Wow, talk about a passionate, well balanced, inspirational person! Zig Zigar is 86 years old and he is still one of the most world respected personal development and motivation speakers!
Success means different things to different people and as his list shows, it is not a single word or expression. Success is more than a one-sentence definition. It is unfortunate that so many people spend their lives chasing after one thing or another and not incorporating the balance they need in all areas of their life.
In the list, “What Success Isn’t” I see many people engulfed in so many of these tedious, stressful, unhealthy behaviors. I’m on my path to success and I am grateful that every day, I feel “successful” because I have a deep sense of contentment along with a healthy drive to pursue the things I believe add to my sense of success. The second list doesn’t have one thing I do in my life, anymore. I’ve grown out of a lot of it through personal development.
Thanks for sharing the link to a free chapter to Zig Ziglar’s book. I’m buying!
Raena Lynn
Raena Lynn recently posted..17 Marketing Problems With Online Marketers
Raena, Personal development will surely help us be balanced and to know what success means to us. Sounds as if you are on target.
Lynn Jones recently posted..The “It’s All About GrAtitude” Project
I’m not sure how ANYONE could improve on Zig’s list! He pretty much covers it all. One of this items that I might want to reword a bit, however, and add it to the “What Success Is” list would be “Success is coming home from work and knowing that you’ve accomplished enough throughout the day that you feel perfectly free to take time for yourself, relax before the TV or sit down quietly to a good book and not feel guilty.” You can confidently say that tomorrow is another day to accomplish even more.
That’s a great one Steve and so much better than lamenting over your day and thinking something like….I just didn’t get enough done. I like the peace and contentment that your thought brings!
Lynn Jones recently posted..The “It’s All About GrAtitude” Project
Lynn, I think success is also being able to enjoy the moment or the here and now rather than being constantly on our way rushing to something ‘better’. Thought provoking post thanks for sharing
Sadie-Michaela Harris recently posted..Social Media Infographic Growth in 2011 Illustrated
So true Sadie, we do need to learn to live in the moment otherwise we are missing so many blessings.
Lynn Jones recently posted..Enjoy Life’s Journey