Define the word success

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Success is the state or condition of meeting a defined range of expectations. It may be viewed as the opposite of failure. The criteria for success depend on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system. One person might consider a success what another person considers a failure, particularly in cases of direct competition or a zero-sum game. Similarly, the degree of success or failure in a situation may be differently viewed by distinct observers or participants, such that a situation that one considers to be a success, another might consider to be a failure, a qualified success or a neutral situation. For example, a film that is a commercial failure or even a box-office bomb can go on to receive a cult following, with the initial lack of commercial success even lending a cachet of subcultural coolness.^[1][2]

It may also be difficult or impossible to ascertain whether a situation meets criteria for success or failure due to ambiguous or ill-defined definition of those criteria. Finding useful and effective criteria, or heuristics, to judge the failure or success of a situation may itself be a significant task.

In American culture[edit]

DeVitis and Rich link the success to the notion of the American Dream. They observe that «[t]he ideal of success is found in the American Dream which is probably the most potent ideology in American life»^[3] and suggest that «Americans generally believe in achievement, success, and materialism.»^[4] Weiss, in his study of success in the American psyche, compares the American view of success with Max Weber’s concept of the Protestant work ethic.^[5]

In biology[edit]

Natural selection is the variation in successful survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype. It is a key mechanism of evolution, the change in the heritable traits characteristic of a population over generations. Charles Darwin popularized the term «natural selection», contrasting it with artificial selection, which in his view is intentional, whereas natural selection is not. As Darwin phrased it in 1859, natural selection is the «principle by which each slight variation [of a trait], if useful, is preserved».^[6] The concept was simple but powerful: individuals best adapted to their environments are more likely to survive and reproduce. As long as there is some variation between them and that variation is heritable, there will be an inevitable selection of individuals with the most advantageous variations. If the variations are heritable, then differential reproductive success leads to a progressive evolution of particular populations of a species, and populations that evolve to be sufficiently different eventually become different species.^[7][8]

In education[edit]

A student’s success within an educational system is often expressed by way of grading. Grades may be given as numbers, letters or other symbols. By the year 1884, Mount Holyoke College was evaluating students’ performance on a 100-point or percentage scale and then summarizing those numerical grades by assigning letter grades to numerical ranges. Mount Holyoke assigned letter grades A through E, with E indicating lower than 75% performance. The A–E system spread to Harvard University by 1890. In 1898, Mount Holyoke adjusted the grading system, adding an F grade for failing (and adjusting the ranges corresponding to the other letters). The practice of letter grades spread more broadly in the first decades of the 20th century. By the 1930s, the letter E was dropped from the system, for unclear reasons.^[9]

Educational systems themselves can be evaluated on how successfully they impart knowledge and skills. For example, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils’ scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and reading.^[10] It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years.

Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, primarily researches motivation, personality, and development as related to implicit theories of intelligence, her key contribution to education the 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Dweck’s work presents mindset as on a continuum between fixed mindset (intelligence is static) and growth mindset (intelligence can be developed). Growth mindset is a learning focus that embraces challenge and supports persistence in the face of setbacks. As a result of growth mindset, individuals have a greater sense of free will and are more likely to continue working toward their idea of success despite setbacks.

In business and leadership[edit]

Malcolm Gladwell’s 2008 book Outliers: The Story of Success suggests that the notion of the self-made man is a myth. Gladwell argues that the success of entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates is due to their circumstances, as opposed to their inborn talent.^[11][12]

Andrew Likierman, former Dean of London Business School,^[13] argues that success is a relative rather than an absolute term: success needs to be measured against stated objectives and against the achievements of relevant peers: he suggests Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Jack Ma (Alibaba) have been successful in business «because at the time they started there were many companies aspiring to the dominance these two have achieved».^[14] Likierman puts forward four propositions regarding company success and its measurement

1. There is no single definition of «a successful company» and no single measure of «company success»
2. Profit and share value cannot be taken directly as measures of company success and require careful interpretation
3. Judgement is required when interpreting past and present performance
4. «Company success» reflects an interpretation of key factors: it is not a «fact».^[15]

In philosophy of science[edit]

Scientific theories are often deemed successful when they make predictions that are confirmed by experiment. For example, calculations regarding the Big Bang predicted the cosmic microwave background and the relative abundances of chemical elements in deep space (see Big Bang nucleosynthesis), and observations have borne out these predictions. Scientific theories can also achieve success more indirectly, by suggesting other ideas that turn out correct. For example, Johannes Kepler conceived a model of the Solar System based on the Platonic solids. Although this idea was itself incorrect, it motivated him to pursue the work that led to the discoveries now known as Kepler’s laws, which were pivotal in the development of astronomy and physics.^[17]

In probability[edit]

The fields of probability and statistics often study situations where events are labeled as «successes» or «failures». For example, a Bernoulli trial is a random experiment with exactly two possible outcomes, «success» and «failure», in which the probability of success is the same every time the experiment is conducted.^[18] The concept is named after Jacob Bernoulli, a 17th-century Swiss mathematician, who analyzed them in his Ars Conjectandi (1713).^[19] The term «success» in this sense consists in the result meeting specified conditions, not in any moral judgement. For example, the experiment could be the act of rolling a single die, with the result of rolling a six being declared a «success» and all other outcomes grouped together under the designation «failure». Assuming a fair die, the probability of success would then be .

See also[edit]

• Critical success factor
• Customer success
• Great books
• List of films considered the best
• Probability of success
• Propaganda of success
• Success trap
• Survivorship bias
• Victory

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Darwin, Charles (1859). On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1st ed.). London: John Murray. LCCN 06017473. OCLC 741260650.
• DeVitis, Joseph L; Rich, John Martin (1996). The Success Ethic, Education, and the American Dream. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-585-06057-6. OCLC 42855408.
• Weiss, Richard (1969). The American Myth of Success: From Horatio Alger to Norman Vincent Peale. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-06043-4.

Further reading[edit]

• Brueggemann, John (2010). Rich, Free, and Miserable: The Failure of Success in America. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-0095-1. OCLC 659730070.

Last Updated:
30 Mar 2023
— Updated example sentences

If you can’t easily answer what success means to you on your own terms, it’s time for some self-reflection. 

All too often we adopt other people’s versions of success without really questioning our own version. This can lead us down a path of achieving things that look like success to others but don’t bring lasting satisfaction or fulfillment in our personal lives. 

The first step is to ask yourself how you define success. 

The definition of success

Merriam Webster defines success as any of the following:

1. the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame
2. the correct or desired result of an attempt
3. someone or something that is successful (ie., person or thing that succeeds)

American culture certainly relates success to financial stability, or achieving wealth, respect, or fame. For most of us, fame isn’t likely something we’ll achieve, respect can be earned and lost, and wealth, well, we all have different definitions of that, too.

Consider asking yourself if your own version of success is based on someone else’s example? Perhaps you can identify a person, like a parent or a best friend, or a group of people (real or fictional) you model your own success after. Consider this person your inspiration. Now ask yourself, are these the same ways you would measure success?

Align your definition with your inner truth

There are some signs your definition of success isn’t aligned with your inner truth, which you should watch out for.

• A main focus in your life is achieving new personal records or breaking ever-moving glass ceilings
• You’ve experienced sadness, grief, disappointment, or emotional numbness after achieving major life milestones like graduating school, getting married, purchasing a home, winning a certain award, etc.
• You regularly wonder and/or question if you’re in the “right” career field, relationship, marriage, school program, apprenticeship, contract, etc.
• You have difficulties making decisions and feeling good about them
• You don’t see yourself as having a positive impact on others

Your own definition of the word success 

Coming up with a definition of success that really reflects your personal values can be an exercise in unlearning! Here are some questions that can help you uncover your existing beliefs about success and whether or not they sit right with you. 

When you’re able to identify originating thoughts around success – and if you feel that way right now – you can better focus on the things that matter to you. This is the way toward a truly successful life. 

Personal questions to ask yourself

Taking a moment to answer these personal questions can save you a lot of stress and prevent missed opportunities to feel satisfied with your life. 

1. Who can you think of (real or fictional) that you consider successful?
2. Write down 1-3 reasons why you consider this person successful. 
3. Circle any words from your reasons that stand out to you. 
4. Ask yourself what these words reflect, mean, or bring up emotionally for you. For example, if you circled something like married, rich, or thin, sit with the word for a few moments. How does it feel?
5. Are these the things you want for your life moving forward? 

Another way you can create your own definition of success is to take five minutes to write down or draw as many words or images that represent success. 

If you really want to dive deep into your feelings on this, do this same exercise for the word failure. Understanding how you view failure can also give you greater insight into what your own version of having a successful life looks like. 

Be careful when chasing great success

Goals are healthy ways to make progress in life, but if you find yourself obsessing over being better, no matter how much work you put in, consider taking a step back. 

Michael Norton, a Harvard Business School professor who has studied the connections between happiness and wealth, says research has shown people ask themselves two questions when determining if they’re satisfied with something in their life: 

• Am I doing better than I was before?
• Am I doing better than other people? 

Since many things that really matter in life, like being a spouse or parent, are hard to measure, Norton says people tend to look for other, more quantifiable ways of measuring success. 

Money and business deals, zip codes, weight, grades, and more can begin taking priority because we can measure their success more easily than in other areas of our lives. 

These numerical ways of instantly evaluating ourselves can lead us away from the deeper and more meaningful personal successes we truly desire. 

A successful life starts with having a plan

Successful living requires successful planning. 

Do you want to know how to be successful? First, understand this: achieving your version of success isn’t going to happen overnight. Consider this a long distance run rather than a sprint. 

Start by considering how your current life is either contributing to or detracting from seeing success. Ask yourself this question for the different areas of your life including your health, romantic relationship, friendships, and business partnerships. 

Then, ask yourself what steps you can take to:

• Remove anything and everything that is actively taking away from, limiting, or preventing your success. This may include toxic work environments where your potential is not being realized and fostered, or abusive relationships that are destroying your self-esteem.
• Make certain changes that support your version of success (even if it doesn’t make sense to others). 
• Add some deadlines or benchmarks to keep yourself accountable and to give structure to your plans. The more specific you are about what you want, when you want it, and what you’re willing to do to achieve it, the better you’re able to go the course and stay the course! 

Success is about staying in motion

What goes into motion stays in motion. 

It can be challenging to maintain motivation, even with the help of motivational quotes for success at your fingertips. After all, enthusiasm isn’t something you simply pick up or put down. Doing something small every single day, however, helps move things more in alignment with your goals, which can lead you toward success. 

For example, if your goal (or SMART goal) is to write a book because you see success as being a published author, but you only ever sit down to type when the mood strikes, you’re not going to get far. 

How much success is too much success?

When great success becomes greatly disappointing, you’ve had enough. 

So, going back to our original example, say you finally get the inspiration to write, publish, market, and bestsell that book. You’ve never been so successful by your own definition. 

However, instead of celebrating, embracing the achievement, or reflecting on all your hard work, you find a problem with the printer’s proof copy and convince yourself you’re a complete failure. This is another sign it’s to reassess what success means to you (yes, this can change with life experience!). 

What was successful to your younger self and what is successful to you today may look entirely different, and that’s entirely okay. 

How to answer the ‘define success question’ in a job interview

This is probably one of the hardest questions to answer in any job interview. You may think how you define success may not be what the interviewers want to hear. 

Here’s what to do: Answer honestly anyway. 

Just be sure to slant your answer about defining success toward the job in some relevant way. To use the same example from above, if you want to be an author and are interviewing at a publishing house, be sure to mention how this goal can benefit them, too. 

In other words, sell your interviewer on the idea that your version of success means success for the whole company (and you have a plan in place to achieve it!). 

Success is about emotional freedom

Fear is the enemy of success.

Those that think about success eventually experience the progressive realization that fear can actually be good, in the sense that it challenges you to explore new emotional places and push past your comfort zone to grow. 

But when fear starts clouding your judgement, making your decisions, and dictating your path in life, it’s become the enemy of success. Gaining emotional freedom from fear steers you toward succeeding. 

The best way to do this will differ for everyone, but you can try a simple activity that involves naming your fears. 

• Give yourself 20 minutes or so each week (or better yet, a few minutes each day) to acknowledge your fears. Write them or draw them. 
• Do you notice a theme? Examples include: losing money, being abandoned, hurting others. Write it all down: every last fear. 

For some, writing this list in a structured timeframe and in regular frequency will release the pent up fears they’ve been carrying with them. If you’re not a list person, you can also meditate on the meaning of fear in your life while considering the following questions:

• Is fear motivating you or stopping you?
• Are your fears realistic attached to failure?
• Can you release whatever fears are no longer serving you?
• In what ways can you work toward preventing your fears from becoming reality? 

Success is in the eye of the beholder

Success is easier accomplished when you have help and support from others. This is why you may find others trying to pull you away from your path toward success to join theirs. 

While this can be a thrilling offer at times (who doesn’t want to help others achieve their goals?), you must be careful not to spend more time on someone else’s definition of success than your own. For more tips on how to be happy, check out our article on the subject! 

What is success?

Is it wealth? Is it happiness? Is it fame?

The late Zig Ziglar was one of the most respected modern day experts on success, motivation, and leading a balanced life. In his book Born to Win!, he argues that success cannot be defined in one sentence, but instead it is comprised of many things. One could argue that the definition depends on the individual and that one size does not fit all^[1].

Here are 19 different definitions of success. Not all of these will resonate with you, but chances are at least a few of them will. Use these or find inspiration here to create your own definition of success that can be applied to your unique life.

1. Success is always doing your best.

Success can be achieved when you try your best in all aspects of everything you do, even if that doesn’t lead to big results. If you’ve done your best, you should feel proud of your efforts.

2. Success is setting concrete goals.

Be realistic and concrete when setting goals. Success does not come from setting abstract goals. If you know where you’re heading, that is a success in itself, even if you don’t ultimately arrive to the planned destination.

If you aren’t sure how to set an effective goal, grab the free guide – The Dreamers’ Guide To Taking Action And Reaching Goals here. You will learn how to set and reach your goals with this step-by-step guide.

3. Success is having a place to call home.

Home is where your heart soars. You are always successful when you can call a place home. Home doesn’t have to be a specific structure. It can be a country, a city, or even a person. If you have a place you feel comfortable and safe, you’re already achieving something great.

4. Success is understanding the difference between need and want.

If you can meet your monthly obligations and fulfill your basic needs, you are successful. Being able to identify when you absolutely need something and when you can do without it often leads to financial stability and is a great way to succeed.

5. Success is believing you can.

If you believe you can, you will succeed. Self-belief doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so if you’re able to tell yourself that you can achieve the goals in your plans, you’re doing great.

When people don’t believe in you, you still need to work on your own confidence! Here’s how:

6. Success is remembering to balance work with passion.

Work without passion creates undue stress and empty achievements. Focus on what excites you. If you’re happy at your job, that’s great. However, even if you aren’t, you can balance your formal job with hobbies or volunteer work you’re passionate about.

7. Success is taking care of your needs.

Remember to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Self-care is essential if you want to have any meaningful impact on the world around you.

8. Success is learning that you sometimes have to say no.

Success only comes with a balanced life. Part of balance is learning to say no. Saying no doesn’t mean you are selfish; it simply means you have priorities and know what you need to give your attention to at any given time.

9. Success is knowing your life is filled with abundance.

Love, health, friends, family…life is filled with abundance. Recognizing this is an important step to feeling grateful for all life has given you. If you can feel this, you are already experiencing success.

10. Success is understanding you cannot keep what you don’t give away.

You will only succeed if you help others succeed. Learning to give instead of always take is part of creating a world we all want to live in. When you help others, you will also create an environment where others want to help you.

11. Success is overcoming fear.

Conquering a fear makes you feel invincible. Even if it’s confronting just one small fear each week, that is certainly something to feel proud of. The bigger fears will take more time, but any work you do to overcome fear will lead to success.

12. Success is learning something new each day.

Successful people understand that learning never stops. Take time each day to converse with someone with opposing views, read an interesting article on a topic you know little about, or watch a TED talk on new research. It doesn’t take long to learn, so get started now.

13. Success is learning that losing a few battles can help you win a war.

Successful people choose their battles wisely. When you know which battles will ultimately help you achieve your goals, you will be successful.

14. Success is loving and being loved back.

Opening your heart to others is difficult and can produce fear. Having the courage to love and accept love from others is a step toward a fulfilling life and great success.

15. Success is standing your ground when you believe in something.

Successful people never give up on things they believe with all their heart. You may hold views that many people disagree with, but if you’ve done your research and know that it’s the right belief for you, you shouldn’t let it go without a fight.

16. Success is not giving up.

Perseverance creates grit, and grit achieves success. Even if it takes years to achieve a goal, persisting is key if you want success.

When you feel like giving up, remind yourself what you’re fighting for. As long as you have a strong “why” you will be able to persist. Don’t know if your “why” is strong enough? Join the free Fast-Track Class Activate Your Motivation. In this focused session, you will learn how to dive deep into your inner drive and build yourself a sustainable motivation engine. Join now for free!

17. Success is celebrating small victories.

Anytime a goal is reached or an obstacle is overcome, take time to celebrate, even if it’s something small. All goals require smaller objectives to be achieved first, so each time you complete one, take time to appreciate the work you put into it.

18. Success is never letting a disability hold you back.

Disabilities do not define a person’s success. The body and mind will compensate. Just because you can’t do absolutely everything doesn’t mean you can’t do something. Do what your body and mind allow and always push yourself. That is true success.

19. Success is understanding that you control your destiny.

Your destiny is controlled by you and you alone. Take responsibility for your actions and their consequences and you’ll find that you naturally become more successful.

The Bottom Line

Success can be defined in many ways. If you are experiencing happiness, love, or adventure in this moment, you’ve already found success. Keep it up.

More Tips on Success

• 15 Inspiring Ideas to Boost Your Motivation for Success
• How To Be Successful In Life? 13 Tips From The Most Successful People
• 3 Keys to Success in Life (That Will Change You This Year)

Featured photo credit: Dino Reichmuth via unsplash.com