It’s vague, subjective, and just outright an annoying concept. The definition of success is, by default, set through culture. That means your friends and family, TV shows, movies, news articles, and more.
A teenager raising millions in VC capital for their startup, a Netflix show topping the charts, a TikTok rising star — all of these get perpetuated as what success looks like.
In reality, not only are they other people’s definitions of success, but they’re gross outliers from many contestants. And notice I said contestants because it seems like the competition is one of the leading motivators for defining success.
Success doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, i.e., a game where for someone to win, others have to lose. Success can be intrinsic (defined from within) rather than extrinsic (defined externally) — it can be a positive-sum game where everyone wins.
Who’s to say that a father of two, putting all his energy into his kids, earning a decent income, and being a supportive husband isn’t successful? Nobody will write about this guy; the average person won’t recognize him, nor will he be commended by the general public — and yet, this might be the most fulfilling success story ever written if someone was to write it.
If you don’t define what success looks like to you, the default will always become money, fame, and ass.
This is why the very first step in achieving success is 100% rooted in defining what success looks like to you. The second step is making sure that every time you’re in doubt or see yourself shifting with external pressure — that’s when you go back to your definition and say, “No, I know what success looks like.”
And that definition won’t lead you astray — it’ll be the harbinger of happiness and fulfillment in your life.
Good luck, friend.
Sah out.
This article is a section from the fifth chapter of my five-step guide to clarity in life —you can get the complete guide here, and the first chapter is up for free here. I hope you find it helpful
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Thanks again,
Sah