The meaning of success...
- robert porter
- Mar 26, 2022
- 2 min read
It’s pretty fundamental, but often overlooked: if I’m writing a blog about things including “success” then what do I mean by that word? It’s especially important because you might be surprised how flexible the notion of success is.
My favourite definition of success is this simple one:
The achievement of an aim or purpose.
Note that this may, but does not necessarily, include aims of materialistic wealth or achievement.
It’s materialistic achievement that many people associate with success. The big house, the big job, the six-figure salary, the Mercedes in the driveway. Some people might call this type of success “living the dream.” It’s important stuff and is a fundamental example of what success might mean.

But it’s not the only form of success. Some people live in relatively mean circumstances but have a loving family relationship which brings them contentment (remember that old adage that material wealth doesn’t necessarily bring you happiness?). To some, that might be the measure of success.
Fame is another measure of success. To my mind fame for fame’s sake is a particularly ephemeral phenomenon, like a castle built on sand; but some people crave it and it can give them great purpose and self-worth in life. Less tenuous is the fame that comes co-incidentally with other forms of success, such as being a leading politician or a successful actor.
To others success might be a goal such as losing weight and getting fit to run a marathon to raise money for charity. To yet others it might be effectively subscribing to the tenets of a religion to acquire spiritual wealth.
Success has many faces. You have to decide what form of success will make you fulfilled. It might not just be one, but a combination of types.
At the beginning of this post I said that understanding what the notion of success is is fundamental. One reason for this is because, when we come to set out our goals for success, it won’t easily be possible to do that unless you know what type of success you seek.
Time to begin figuring it out.
Comments