If you were to ask people the question: “What Is Success?”, you would most certainly receive a wide variety of responses.

This is because the word “Success” over the years has taken on many meanings. It is quite amazing what meaning people attach and associate to that simple word, “Success”.

For example, when some people are asked to define the word “Success”, they might associate it with wealth, material possessions, a lucrative career, or fame.

We will come back to the question: “What Is Success?” in a moment. But first, let’s take a brief look at what some have perceived success to be, and what has happened to some in their pursuit of success.

Some, unfortunately have a warped view of success. Take for example, some who are involved in sports.

According to medical researchers, more and more young athletes are taking potentially harmful performance-enhancing drugs in order to excel in sports. Education Update online reported: “When college students in a recent survey were asked: “If you knew you’d win or make the team by taking steroids, but in five years you’d get sick, would you still do it?,” nearly all said yes. When the question was changed to “If you knew you would die within five years,” 65% still said yes.” It seems some are willing to pay a high price to attain success at any cost – even if that cost is not just their careers, but their very life!

Another example comes from the entertainment world. We will keep the name of this person anonymous . Needless to say, this person was a singing phenomenon by her early 20’s and was very rich. Few people become so famous and financially successful at such an early age. But then things started to go wrong in her life. After two failed marriages, she had to spend time in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers. Her whole life began to unravel.

Even in the more conservative business world, seemingly successful people often have troubled lives. Regarding New York City’s financial high-fliers, a newspaper reported: “The push for record profits is ruining careers, tearing apart families and keeping drug dealers busy…While record bonuses make some Wall Street bankers feel invincible, others become emotional wrecks from pressure to perform and some hit rock bottom.”

I ask the question, in view of the previous example: Is our success in life contingent with amassing wealth? Studies indicate otherwise.

For instance, a study in China showed that during a recent period when the average income grew by 250%, people actually became less satisfied with life.

We have seen from these examples, what meaning people attach to the attainment of success, and how it affects their lives and the impact it can have upon their life!

But we come back to our original question: “What Is Success?”

The Collins English dictionary defines the word “Success” as: “the favorable outcome of something attempted.”

So, “success” is when we attempt to perform some action or reach some goal, and we achieve it successfully! The other things we’ve mentioned, wealth, fame, material possessions, are merely outward results of doing something successfully – and success means different things to different people!

The problem with the definition we almost always place upon the word “success”, is ,that it can make some people feel “inferior “ and that they’re not a successful person. It can make them feel frustrated, dissatisfied with their lives, but with the kind of dissatisfaction that immobilizes them, and they become even more negative.

An author once said about the word “success”: “If you can read or write, and tie your shoe laces, you’re a success.”

In reality, the potential for “success” is within each of us. The trick is, to tap into your potential, but then, to have a sound understanding of what “success” really is, as we defined it earlier.

Don’t get sucked in by the media’s view, and definition of what success is. In real terms, success has more to do with who you are as a person, not with what your status in life might appear to be!

© 2009 by Coach Ian Scott

Do you work with, or know of someone who always displays the same joyful outlook on life whenever you see or meet this person? They have a ready-smile, a cheery word, something positive to say, a calm demeanor.

You might be forgiven for thinking we are referring to a fictional or perfect person. But we’re not. These people really do exist – and on this planet too!

What you are witnessing, when you meet these people, is the manifestation of joy, or the quality or condition of happiness and contentment.

What do we mean by the terms joy, happiness and contentment?

Well, happiness is a feeling, a showing or expressing of joy. Contentment on the other hand, is a mental or emotional condition. It’s when a person is satisfied with things as they are. It’s a peace of mind, a mental or emotional satisfaction. It must be said right away though, when we say a person is satisfied with things as they are, that it’s not to be confused with thinking a person as resigned themselves to be content with the way things are in their lives, because they feel powerless to make things better. These are two very different, and opposed approaches to life.

Someone who resigns themself into believing their lives will never alter, have resigned or given up on life. And they have not only given up on life, they’ve also given up on themselves.

How then, does a person achieve joy or happiness? Good question.

If I were to ask the public that question, there would be many and varied replies. Many would be led to believe that money brings happiness. Others would say the acquiring of material possessions leads to happiness. Still others would say getting a good education and career brings them untold happiness.

If you were to ask John Paul Getty, were he alive today whether money brought happiness, his reply would be: “unhappiness rather than happiness, is more akin to having wealth.” And that kind of comment would come from a man, who at the time, was the worlds richest man!

Think then for a moment about your own life. What events or situations have brought you the most happiness? Have any of your most happy times had anything to do with wealth or possessions? Or rather, have they not had more to do with people – family, friends, relatives?

The most contentment and happiness we all probably have experienced at times in our lives, has had more to do with people and relationships, rather than with money or things! Again, we are not saying that money and possessions are irrelevant. What we are saying, is it’s what matters most, and what leads to real happiness that’s important.

You probably know of people who have little in the way of money or possessions, yet they are among some of the happiest people you could ever know. They are not forever striving for the next best thing – which tomorrow will not be the next best thing, because the next best thing is already out of date!

We can achieve happiness, it just depends upon your interpretation of what makes you happy. It’s good to be reasonable too when it comes to happiness. Happiness is not a feeling we have 24/7. Happiness is connected with specific situations and experiences we have. We can’t always be walking around with a smile on our face. People would tend to think we were on something! Or they would think we were just “happy-go-lucky” people, going through life without a care or sense of responsibility.

Finally, happiness can be maintained if we have a balanced and reasonable view of life, ourselves, and others. Abraham Lincoln once said: “We are as happy as we make up our minds to be.” Are you a happy person?