What is Your Definition of Real Success

On my way to a meeting, this is what I do. I answer your question and today I’m going to answer the question, How do you define success?  People ask me all the time, how do you define success? What is your definition of success? Or how do you view success in general? I think over the years I look at success differently.

Over the years I think that view has changed. At first, when I was young I thought getting my first job, that was success. Right? Getting into college, that was success. Or being able to buy my mom a nice birthday gift.

That was a success. Or, starting my own business. That was success. But I think over the years, I think that has changed. One of the best definitions I’ve heard when it comes to success is by Earl Nightingale.

And that is, success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. I’ll say that again. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal or goal. I think, when it comes to success some people might think oh, you know, when I make certain amount of money then I’m successful you know, I make half a million dollars then I’m successful, when I make a million dollars I’m successful.

When I bought the dream house then I’m successful. When I landed the dream job then I am successful. I look at success differently. I think success, my definition of success is not the only definition just my definition.

I think all success really is, is this is having a predetermined planned. A predetermined plan. And executing it successfully, over a long period of time and having fun doing it. I’ll say that one more time.

All success really is, is having a predetermined plan, and successfully executing that plan over a long period of time, and having fun doing it. It is that simple. Let’s say you want to lose weight.

You are 200 pounds. You want to get to 180 pounds. And you have a predetermined plan. You’re gonna go to the gym, you’re gonna workout, you’re gonna go on a diet, and you’re working towards the plan.

You’re executing that plan successfully over a long period of time. Could be six months, a year, two years, and you’re losing weight from 200 pounds to 190 pounds to 180 pounds and having a blast doing it.

And having a lot of fun during the process, that to me, in my book, that’s a success. That’s a successful person. Maybe a single parent, that you’re raising a child. Right? And you have a predetermined plan and you’re raising that kid, and you’re nurturing the child, and eventually he or she goes to school and you’re teaching him or her the life principles.

Being a single parent, I think that is a success. It has absolutely nothing to do with money. Cause, I thought buying that car or buying that house or going on that vacation and making that millions of dollars, that’s not success.

I’ll give you perfect example. A very good friend of mine. He owns a lot of franchises. A lot of different franchises, in Canada. Very wealthy guy. Has a lot of money. Has a lot of money. Has a lot of car, a lot of toys.

But the problem is, he’s been divorced three times. Three times. The kids don’t want to talk to him. He’s actually, kind of, like a little bit borderline alcoholic. And you look at him, when every time I see him, he is stressed out.

He is not happy. He has, all he could talk about is open up the next location. The next franchise. Open up that next location. Make that X amount of dollars. But he’s not happy. He goes home just by himself.

Kids don’t want to talk to him. Wife is not there. Is that a success? In my book, I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s a success at all. I think that’s a failure. It’s in fact a very, very big failure.

So I think money doesn’t make you successful. Money just a way you measure by how much value delivered to the marketplace. So I think especially you young people, sometimes I talk to young people, think I make X amount of dollars, then I’m successful.

It has nothing to do with that. Success is having a predetermined plan. The key word is plan. Right? Executing it successfully over long period of time meaning having long term vision, and then just having a lot of fun doing it.

Having a lot of fun doing it. That’s my definition of success. That’s truly my definition of success. I think success is not a destination. Truly, it’s not a destination that you ever reach.

It is the quality of your journey. It is the quality of your journey. So, share with me, comment below. What is your definition of success? How do you view success? Or does this give you a little bit more clarity? And maybe you say, you know what Jeff? I thought I wasn’t successful, I thought I need a million dollars, I need 10 million dollars to be successful.

With that definition, actually you know what Jeff? I think I am pretty successful. And you are pretty successful. It has nothing to do with money. It has nothing to do with money.

Before we go, I want to leave you with one quote by Jim Rohn, which I love. Success is not something that you pursue, success is something that you attract by the person that you become. And until next time, I’ll see you in my Bentley. Source : Youtube