It has been said that success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal or dream. I love that definition because it says so much in few words. So, because I love it for its brevity, I'm going to expand it (that doesn't make much sense).
Progressive realization. Success takes time. It comes in incremental steps with each step bringing one closer to the prize. It doesn't happen all at once. It is realized little by little.
Worthwhile. What you are striving to accomplish must be good, wholesome. You can be the best thief in the world and yet not be successful because what you are good at is not worthwhile. It must be something that contributes positively to the world. It must be of value to society in general.
Goal or dream. Goals are intermediate steps in achieving a dream. A goal is a point on the journey. The dream is the end of the journey.
We are successful each time we achieve even the tiniest goal that takes us one step closer to our dream. Many people measure success in money. If your dream is to be a millionaire, each dollar gained in true Net Worth is success because it is one step closer to achieving your dream. As long as you are making progress you are successful -- even if you never reach your dream.
Most people give up at some point along the way. If they don't reach that huge dream that they have set for themselves in a short period of time, they give up. They quit. They see themselves as a failure. I see this in salesmen on a frequent basis. They set lofty sales goals for themselves. If they fail to meet them, they give up. They start looking for another job. Only when they give up do they fail.
Perseverance is the key. Success is the result of perseverance. It happens incrementally. It takes time.
"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you're bound to wake up somebody!" __ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
7 comments:
Well defined, Pan. But, many people, unfortunately, do succeed with unworthy goals. But that's a whole other post.. :-)
how did ya know that perseverance was my favorite quality in a person sweet Poet?..nice read!:)
It is indeed all about mettle.
Quiting is what you do right before you succeed.
Great post, keep em coming.
Yup no one ever records how many times someone like edison or bell etc "failed" before finally succeeding
In this part of the world we're taught that if you get bucked off of the horse, you've got to get back on him and ride him. Otherwise you and the horse are both ruined.
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