What is Success?

Ask that to 10 people and you'll probably get 10 different answers. Everyone's opinion of success seems to differ.

We must define it because in order to reach success you must first have an understanding of what it is. You'll never get somewhere you don't first see in your mind.

It's probably easier to explain success by first stating what it is not.

It is not a "destination", nor is it a fancy car, jewelry, a giant house or any other type of status (although there is nothing wrong with those things). It's not a certain level of money or a specific job or business.

Success has nothing to do with any of this!

Success is measured by the individual. Nobody can tell you that you are or are not successful because it's different for each of us.

I came across the best definition of success I've ever heard by someone very qualified to give it. With a wall of college basketball records here is coach Wooden's definition of success...

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." ~ John Wooden

Coach Wooden believed that it was impossible to give 100% effort all the time so he used "knowing you did your best". What's important with this is that it leaves room for ERROR.

Too many people get discouraged if they make mistakes and I'm here to tell you that you WILL make mistakes and you will fall, but what's important is that you GET BACK UP. The only time you lose the fight is if you stay down.

I also believe part of success is finding your passion and "purpose" in life and pursuing it with heart.

From all this I've come up with my own definition of success…

"Success is peace of mind directly resulting from the self-satisfaction of uncovering your purpose in life and knowing you did your best to become the best you're capable of and then using it to bless others." ~ Fired Up Phil's revised definition of success

Success has everything to do with personal development. How much can you learn and grow and build character so you can be a better husband, wife, father, mother, friend, colleague or business person.

..So you can offer a better product or service and be more valuable to others, changing lives in the marketplace and all around you.

The more that you grow the more you will posses inside to offer others and the better relationships you'll have. This will lead to more happiness and fulfillment since we were created to fellowship with others.

The minute you understand that success is a continual process that never ends and you commit yourself to it, you become successful at that moment.

As far as the car, house, money and all the other things, well those are material goals and everyone has different goals. Not everyone wants to own three Mercedes and a 10,000 sq ft house. Again, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I believe wealth and prosperity are spiritual attributes that everyone should shoot for, but you can be successful without money.

Mother Teresa for example did not drive a Mercedes and yet she was a smashing success in her own right and lifetime.

Goals and desires are different for all people and have nothing to do with success.

You can decide right now that you ARE successful. No other person has any right or validity in telling you otherwise. You are a miracle from birth and have been designed for greatness. As the saying goes "God doesn't make junk".

Don't allow your mind (low self esteem) to tell you otherwise. Don't judge yourself harshly and be your own worst enemy. And especially don't compare what you have to others allowing that to determine yourself worth and value.

YOU determine yourself worth, not others! You are a success…a smashing success at that, the moment you DECIDE you are.

"Success is more about who you are, than what you accomplish"

If you insist on having a benchmark, use this...

"Success is giving your best in growing to reach your God given potential and using it to benefit and contribute to others."

If you're doing that, you ARE successful and it's just a matter of getting focused on what you would like to accomplish in your life and steering in that direction. Find your passion and pursue it.

If you know that you would rather be doing something different in life and you're not pursuing it that is what I call "selling out" on your heart.

I'm not saying you have to jeopardize your family and up and quit your current job or business, but I am saying you should be working on your dreams and passions at least on a part time basis so that you can eventually grab a hold of it and take it to the highest level you can, since that is what you truly dream of.

Wouldn't it be awesome to earn lots of income doing something you're passionate about and truly enjoy instead of from a job you don't really care for? Some people HATE what they do.

To them and maybe to you, making money doing what you love almost sounds too good to be true? Yet, that's the way it's supposed to be. This is called "turning your avocation into your vocation".

When you do this life becomes easy and enjoyable because you begin to utilize your God given talents and abilities instead of just doing what you're used to. This is also when more money usually starts to flow into your life as well.

One of the best ways to "grow" is to choose to earn a LOT of money because of the character it builds in the process. To accomplish this will force you to uncover and develop your gifts.

Income rarely exceeds personal development ~ Jim Rohn

As this happens you will be a good steward with the money because of the character you've built and you will change other people's lives because of who you are.

The world needs more good hearted people who are good stewards and have BIG hearts AND BIG bank accounts to be used for good.