What is Success?

The dictionary definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  I've always viewed the word "success" as something subjective because depending on what you are trying to accomplish, your success will be different from someone who has a different goal.  

For example, if I'm trying to lose twenty pounds and I achieve that goal then that is considered a success for me. However that does not mean someone who is twenty pounds overweight is considered a failure because losing weight may not have been one of their goals.

This is part of the problem when talking about success in general terms. We often use the same measuring stick that others are using to measure their success when our goals or path is not the same. I think that is what keeps us from really living our best lives is because we don't have a clear idea of what success means to us. We only know what society says about success.

This also holds true for people who may have similar goals...using the weight loss example, let's say I want to lose twenty pounds and so does my Facebook friend, Amy. Amy hits her goal in two months and I'm not even halfway there. So does that mean I failed? Not necessarily. Was my goal to lose twenty pounds in two months? Did Amy maybe take supplements or have weight loss surgery or perhaps our metabolism is different?

Success is based an individual achievements. Whether it's weight loss, launching a business or getting new clients.  We have to focus on our own efforts, not what Amy is doing, not what Tracie is doing or anyone else. We have to stop worrying so much about the end result and just do the work at our own pace. We all get there eventually if we just stay the course and have faith in our abilities.