What is success?

Whether it's in our personal lives or in our careers, success is something that motivates us and gives us a sense of accomplishment.

Everyone has their own version of what success looks like to them and what drives and motivates them daily.

Often when we talk about successful people, we think about someone with a healthy bank balance, or a prominent status. According to Richard Branson, this is the wrong way to look at success as he says:

"Too many people measure how successful they are by how much money they make or the people that they associate with. In my opinion, true success should be measured by how happy you are”.

At its core, success is about achieving one's goals and objectives. This can vary depending on the individual, but there are a few common characteristics that can be associated with success.

GOAL SETTING:
One of the most important aspects of success is having a clear vision and a defined set of goals. This means knowing what you want to achieve and having a plan to get there. It's important to set realistic goals that are achievable and measurable, and to regularly review and update them as needed.

HARD WORK:
Another key aspect of success is hard work and determination. Success rarely comes easy, and it often requires a significant amount of effort and perseverance. This means putting in the time and effort to learn new skills, build relationships and overcome obstacles.

Denzel Washing says, "Luck will get you to a point. But to achieve the kind of success you dream about, you need to WORK! There are no shortcuts, you can't cheat life, just get to work and don't stop until you reach your highest potential."

Steve Jobs always said to be successful, you simply need to "love what you do", which of course isn't always an option for everyone. Joe Wicks, The Body Coach reinforces this theory by reflecting on his own success story -"I think it's loving what you do with your time. I'm not the best trainer. I'm not the smartest or most ambitious person but I loved fitness from day 1 and it's the reason I am here today. Stopping when it was tough, just wasn't an option in my mind."

RISK TAKING:
In addition to hard work and determination, success also requires a certain level of risk-taking. This means being willing to step out of your comfort zone and take calculated risks to achieve your goals. Whether it's starting a new business, pursuing a new career path, or taking on a challenging project, success often requires taking a leap of faith and embracing uncertainty.

RESILIENCE:
Another important aspect of success is resilience. And we found that Winston Churchill, is in total agreement -"success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm".

No matter how well you plan or how hard you work, there will always be setbacks and failures along the way. The ability to bounce back from these setbacks and stay focused on your goals is essential for achieving success.

Finally, success is also about having a positive impact on others. Whether it's through your work, your relationships, or your community, success should be about making a difference and leaving a positive legacy. This means being a good role model helping others and contributing to something larger than yourself.

Barak Obama, 44th President of the US, supports this saying, "success isn't about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives."

And to inspire us a bit me, we found quotes from a further four known individuals. One or all of them could resonate with you and perhaps offer some motivation or inspiration to push your success that little bit more.

Beyonce - "Never let success go to your head, never let failure get to your heart".

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable", Coco Chanel.

"I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday" -Eleanor Roosevelt 

Walt Disney -"if you can dream it, you can do it".

In conclusion, success is a complex and multifaceted concept that means different things to different people. However, at its core, success is about achieving your goals, working hard, taking risks, being resilient, and making a positive impact on others. By focusing on these key aspects of success, we can all work towards achieving our goals and living a fulfilling and meaningful life.