Success is not an easy word to unpack. Despite it having only a few dictionary definitions, success has evolved to be literally anything and everything. Nowadays, success has infinite definitions, all of which seem largely valid. Due to this complex nature of success, I have decided to split my discussion on this particular subject into 2 articles. This discussion will also be only limited to how one should define success, with further articles exploring how our redefined notion of success can be applied to actually achieve it. Happy reading!
1. Goals vs Systems
Success is often defined to be great achievements which generally come in the form of promotions, grades, medals etc. Though these achievements can all be a great representation of what success should be like, it actually confuses many to set their sights, make achieving all this material achievements their goals. However, what success requires from each ‘contestant’ is pure dedication to his/her craft, to focus deeply on what matters most to achieve the ultimate goal of success. Fixating on a certain goal which represents success merely causes us to lose sight of the true goal of working so hard to achieve success — to truly fall in love with the process to the point that one commits oneself in working towards the cause. This can only be attained when we put our heart into creating and then utilising our personalised system(s) to achieve success. Systems, unlike goals would be able to provide a clear path for us to take in order to achieve success. Even having a system would be a success within self, as having a system indicates mastery, meaning that one has victory over self. Such miniscule successes would actually be the key to creating a successful system which would lead to actual success. In fact, this is why many successful individuals are able to achieve their success — because of the systems that they have set in place. David Allen’s GTD system, Charles Duhigg’s Cue-Routine-Reward Habit Loop etc.
2. Success need not be glamorous or anything socially considered to be ‘great’
Another reason why many fall short of success is because of the society around them, which tells them what exactly what success should look like. This is pretty evident as schools crown their valedictorians, give out prizes during various ceremonies throughout the years, as teachers publicly commend top students in front of their classes. Indeed, this can encourage these successful individuals to chase even more, greater success. However, it has greatly neglected those who are not on the stage, receiving the prizes and awards since they did not ‘make the cut’. Instead, such practices has caused the latter group of people to blame themselves for being unable to achieve the very same awards, feeling that they are inadequate, lacking in inability. What is shocking is that these so-called ‘average or failed’ individuals are in fact the majority of the student population(it is the exact same in the adult population too), yet no one is there to support them, to inform them that they in fact are champions in their own right, that as long as they have done their best in whatever they have attempted. Success does not need to be defined by being the best at something one does, but instead, success should be defined based on one’s ability to persuade through tough times, to just be present, and just utilise sheer willpower to do what has to be done, and even if so-called success is not achieved, then so be it. Success is subjective and personal, and therefore what may be defined to be success by a professional athlete may not be what I define to be success as an amateur gym goer.
Success is inherently of multiplex of opinions by many different individuals. What is important to note is not what success is, but what is done, what is sacrificed, to achieve it. This article continues on in the next article, How to redefine the meaning of success(Part 2 of 2) as I delve deeper into the meaning of success and whether it even needs to have a meaning at all.
Do take note, I am by no means an expert in this field, but I believe strongly that it is not fair that I should not let my opinions on this matter be known, since it may be helpful to some individuals out there. Do follow me for more articles just like this as I project my thoughts and opinions out to the world!!
