What is Success? - November 2011 Issue




http://www.gcsd.k12.nj.us/hpps/

The concept behind success is such a volatile topic that there is never a single answer. Some define it as the ability to achieve self fulfillment, while others define it as the way others view a person’s character, social status, career, economic well-being, and even lifestyle foundation. Regardless of how it’s interpreted, everyone strives to achieve “success.” The issue that has arisen is that some individuals feel as if success is beyond their reach. An apple on a branch just barely beyond the yearning hand’s grasp. I personally feel as if this “phenomena” of unachieved success is due to a person’s inability to define success for themselves.

We live in a world, to the dismay of many, which is driven by monetary benefits. Those who are able to establish lucrative means and sustainment for their lives are revered in the eyes of the public. We see such figures as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Tata company etc., and we notice a commonality between them. That is, all of the afore mentioned were pioneers in their field; they were the initiators for a new line of technology and innovation. Now this is not to suggest that in order to achieve what one defines as “success,” you must become a pioneer in a new frontier – as many competitors in the same business have achieved success on their own standards.

Often people discredit the success of others as a byproduct of external factors, while they define their own accolades through internal factors – “they got that job because the interviewer likes them. I got the job because I’m talented and insightful.” Now it seems as if we have attempted to give this arbitrary and abstract concept of “success” a physical and concrete representation.  Our ability to achieve something, receive a certain score, obtain a job etc., is a definition of our success. Some may define it as such while others, even you, might see success in a different light.

As quoted from an NFL coach: “Success is only success if you bring others along with you.”  At a first glance, it’s easy to see what the coach means. However, a thorough analysis reveals the true difficulties that lie just beyond the quotes deceitful guise. Simple to say, not as such to apply. If you take the example of a traditional high school, it can quickly be seen how this quote, although noble in its intentions to define success, is fundamentally flawed. In a high school, students are labeled with numbers, given a class ranking, and often confined to the company of those within proximity of their peer based hierarchy. Students find themselves secluding themselves from beneficial partnerships knowing the consequence of success on their own behalf would also cause the success of another. This form of animosity, although never explicitly displayed, exists in many competitive students, and in some cases, adults alike.

Success is a difficult topic to grasp mainly because of its vast encompassment of ideals. Some see it as achievement of self sufficiency while others see it as helping others. One group may view it as superiority while others define it as evading inferiority. With so many factors in the world limiting a person’s ability to achieve success, they only need one initiative to push them beyond the steep tip of the mountain to reach the ideals and the felicity on the other end. The final message that I promote: Success is defined by you and no one else. Once you can personally achieve a sense of self fulfillment, you can truly begin to see the values in your ways and how far you’ve come to achieve your goals and accolades.