THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DEFINING YOUR OWN SUCCESS IN LIFE

Success. Everyone aspires to have it. The real question lies in what success truly means to you. Society overwhelms people with images of success: a high-powered job where one is esteemed and earns substantial wealth – preferably, a lot of it; influential connections, a spacious home in an affluent neighborhood, enviable cars, vacations in exotic places, and access to the most exclusive establishments. And, of course, the ideal image of being fit and impeccably dressed, mostly in designer attire. But do these external markers truly align with the desires of your innermost self? If not, then what truly resonates with you?

Richard Branson, the British business magnate and founder of the Virgin Group, says on his LinkedIn profile that "Real success has to be measured by how happy you are." According to an article in Business Insider, Warren Buffett, the American financial tycoon, states that his success is determined by "how many people love me." Maya Angelou, a renowned writer and poet laureate, believes that success is defined by "Liking yourself, liking what you do, and how you do it." Similarly, Arianna Huffington, writer, politician, and founder of the Huffington Post, argues in her book 'Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success' that "Success, beyond money and power, is about a third pillar: your well-being, your wisdom, your ability to surprise yourself, and to give to others."

 Of course, it can be said that they do not care about money and power as they have it already. Against that thought, Jim Carrey, the American actor believes, “I think everyone should be rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of to see that the answer is not there.”
The great master of business books Stephen Covey explains clearly in his book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, “Success is not a social product, but something personal that each person must define.” He defines it as doing leadership work before management work. Leadership, he assures, is seeing that the field you are plowing is the right one and management is executing it effectively; but you can be plowing without stopping for a single second and it may not be the right field.
Success in life
Here are some tips to define your success in a way that satisfies you: 

1. Start From the End. 

Stephen Covey suggests to imagine yourself dead so that you can determine what you would like these four people— a friend, a family member, a colleague, and a community or religious figure, as you prefer— to think of you at your funeral. When you think of yourself dead, in your coffin, is your most honest definition of what success means to you. This will help you work on your beliefs and redefine your success. 

2. Be Clear About Your Purpose. 

With the previous exercise, what you want from yourself would be clearer to you. It is also important to meditate and see what you believe your purpose in life is. For that, no one explains the process better than the book 'Find Your Why', by Simon Sinek.

3. What Are Your Greatest Needs in Life? 

Tony Robbins, the guru of well-being and success, talks about six basic needs in life and how important is to know which ones are most relevant to you. The needs are, on a personal level: security, variety, love, and significance. And from a spiritual point of view, growth, and contribution. Think about which ones are the most important to you.

4. What Are Your Values in Life? 

There is a list of the 24 universal values. The Personal Leadership Institute at Columbia University classifies them into six: Those related to wisdom and knowledge, such as creativity, curiosity, and love of learning. Others are associated with courage, perseverance, humanity, justice, temperance, or strength that protect people from excess; and, finally, transcendence. 

5. It Requires Meditation. 

Sitting, breathing, and being in a state of calmness allows you to relax to think about this at a deeper level. 

6. Start Being Brave Enough to Go After Your Dreams.

Most experts have said that once you are clear about what success means to you, valuing it comes naturally. Simply wanting success is not enough. The ways you work to it, how much effort you put in, and how you define it are also very important aspects of reaching your goals effectively. 


Are you clearer about your notion of success now?

By:                                                           
Carla De La Vega and Revathi Sreejith

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