This article was written by a colleague of mine, Dr. Peggy Steele.
How do you measure success? First, perhaps a definition of success would be appropriate. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, success includes not only the achievement of wealth, respect or fame but also the desired result of an attempt. In today’s popular culture of fame and fortune, the focus tends to be on achieving wealth and fame.
It is interesting, though, that some of the most “successful” entrepreneurs did not include those aspects when asked about their ideas on success:
Richard Branson, Virgin, says, “The more you’re actively and practically engaged, the more successful you will feel.”
Sara Blakely, Spanx founder, believes that you have to try. If you don’t try, then you fail. If you try, you succeed.
Steve Jobs, of Apple fame, says that the key to success for entrepreneurs is “perseverance.”
Tori Burch, Tori Burch fashions, reminds people that “there are many, many steps on the road to success.”
Elon Musk, founder of PayPal, Tesla Motors and SpaceX, explains that he likes “to be involved in things that change the world.”
Did you notice that these views about success have more to do with what it takes to achieve it? These entrepreneurs focused more on their attempts to gain a desired result. Perhaps success then is not the outcome but the process.
So what is your definition of success? Let us help you find it.