What is "SUCCESS?"
Success is a term we throw around in casual conversation all the time, but what does it actually mean? What are we actually talking about when we say we have achieved or met with success in one endeavor or another? Let's start off here by defining the word "SUCCESS." "SUCCESS" is a noun. It is a two syllable word (suc·cess) and is pronounced: \ sək-ˈses \. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the meanings of success are as follows:
1)
a: degree or measure of succeeding
b: favorable or desired outcome
also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
2)
one that succeeds
3)
obsolete: outcome, result
Its verb form is "SUCCEED" ("to succeed") and its adjective form is "SUCCESSFUL."
The verb "SUCCEED" is define by Merriam-Webster as:
1)
a: to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate
especially : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title
b: to follow after another in order
2)
a: to turn out well
b: to attain a desired object or end - for example: students who succeed in college
3)
obsolete : to pass to a person by inheritance
[Personal Note: I don't understand why #3 is listed as being "obsolete" when it says the same thing as 1a - to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title.]
Finally, the adjective form, "SUCCESSFUL," is define by Merriam-Webster as:
1)
resulting or terminating in success - for example: a successful attempt
2)
gaining or having gained success - for example: a successful investor
For our purposes, we are not talking about the definition of success that deals with inheriting or otherwise gaining something in line after someone else. It's definition 1.b of "SUCCESS" that we will focus our energies on.
Remember, definition 1.b defines success as: "[a] favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence." That seems straightforward enough - and, really, it is! But, you see, that isn't generally where most of the confusion about the meaning of success comes into play. The confusion generally comes with people not having a clear-cut image in their minds of exactly what that "favorable or desired outcome" should be or exactly how much "wealth, favor, or eminence" should be attained to "qualify" as having achieved success.
1)
a: degree or measure of succeeding
b: favorable or desired outcome
also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
2)
one that succeeds
3)
obsolete: outcome, result
Its verb form is "SUCCEED" ("to succeed") and its adjective form is "SUCCESSFUL."
The verb "SUCCEED" is define by Merriam-Webster as:
1)
a: to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate
especially : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title
b: to follow after another in order
2)
a: to turn out well
b: to attain a desired object or end - for example: students who succeed in college
3)
obsolete : to pass to a person by inheritance
[Personal Note: I don't understand why #3 is listed as being "obsolete" when it says the same thing as 1a - to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title.]
Finally, the adjective form, "SUCCESSFUL," is define by Merriam-Webster as:
1)
resulting or terminating in success - for example: a successful attempt
2)
gaining or having gained success - for example: a successful investor
For our purposes, we are not talking about the definition of success that deals with inheriting or otherwise gaining something in line after someone else. It's definition 1.b of "SUCCESS" that we will focus our energies on.
Remember, definition 1.b defines success as: "[a] favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence." That seems straightforward enough - and, really, it is! But, you see, that isn't generally where most of the confusion about the meaning of success comes into play. The confusion generally comes with people not having a clear-cut image in their minds of exactly what that "favorable or desired outcome" should be or exactly how much "wealth, favor, or eminence" should be attained to "qualify" as having achieved success.
What is "SUCCESS?" What does that word we often so loosely throw around even mean? In this section we explore what success means, why success is necessary to achieve in life, what we can do to nurture and attract it, and my personal take on the concept of success as an educator and coach.
More sections on this page coming soon!
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