What makes a person successful? How do we recognise success? What are the manifestations of success? How do we know we have arrived? 

To some people, success might mean wealth. To others, it may be recognition, good health, a good family, happiness, satisfaction or peace of mind. What this really tells us is that success is subjective. Success means different thing to different people. The definition that I feel best summarise ‘success’ is :

  Success is the progressive realisation    of a worthy goal.

                                 —Earl Nightingale  

  Let’s look at the above defination of success carefully.

  ‘Progressive’  means that success is a journey, not a destination. It’s an ongoing process. We never arrive. After we reach one goal, we go on to the next and the next and so on.

 ‘Realisation’ means it is an experience. Outside forces cannot make me feel successful. I have to feel it within myself.It is internal not external. That is why what often appears success externally may be total hollowness internally. No wonder we hear of some celebrities and billionaires taking drugs and commiting suicide because they feel emptiness internally .

‘Worthiness’ determines the quality of ourjourney.Can people have unworthy goals in their lives? The answer is, Yes! What makes a goal worthy? It is our value system which determines the quality of our journey. Whenever we talk about values, whose values are we talking about and who are we to judge? We talk of universal values & eternal values. Universal values mean that they cut across countries, cultures & religions. Eternal means, they were here before we came & they will be here after we’re gone.

 Worthiness is what gives meaning & fulfillment. Success without fulfillment is empty. That’s like good looks without goodness. In life we need substance over form, not form over substance.

‘Goals’  Goals are important because they give us a sense of direction. Our destination determines the direction we take.

    Success & happiness go hand in hand. Success is getting what you want and happiness is wanting what you get.         

 Existence alone is not success! It is     a lot more!   

Do more than exist— Live

Do more than touch— Feel

Do more than look— Observe

Do more than read— Absorb

Do more than hear— Listen

Do more than listen–Understand