You Can't Succeed Until You Define Success

Most people say they want to be successful; you're probably one of them. But what exactly is success? Is it having a bunch of money? Is it marrying the prettiest girl you can find? Is it having the best job?

Ask 100 people to define success and you'll probably get 100 different answers. Funny - they all say they want it, but they don't even know what "it" is!

So, how do you know if you're successful?

You have to start by understanding the definition of success. I've done a lot of research on success and it's actually very easy to define. Success means getting what you want - whatever that may be.

The key to success, though, is you. Instead of focusing on how others perceive your bank account, your wife, or your job, what do YOU want? If you get caught up in "keeping up with the Joneses", you'll never truly be successful. Oh, sure, other people might envy you - but if you're not getting what YOU want, it's all a waste.

That means you can't succeed until you decide what it is you truly want. Unfortunately, most people never figure it out!

I was one of those people. I had a list of goals and, at the time, I thought they were things that amounted to major, successful accomplishments. For example, I had a long list of places I wanted to visit. The only problem? I really don't like to travel!

Another of my goals was to have a white Lincoln Town Car stretch limo, complete with my own private chauffeur. Sounds great, right? But, the truth is, I hate riding around while someone else drives. And, to make matters worse, I hate riding in the backseat!

Is there any wonder why I went years without feeling successful? After all, I was chasing someone else's goals!

So, how do you figure out what you really want?

Go through your list of goals and ask yourself two questions:

1. Why do I want this?

2. How will it feel once I get this?

Don't go easy on yourself. Force yourself to give specific answers - not just rattling off what you "should" say. You might be surprised at what you find out!

Once you determine what it is you truly want, your life will change dramatically. And it'll happen quickly!

But before you think that success is an overnight phenomenon, you need to go back and look at the definition of success very carefully. Notice that I used the word "getting". I could have said "having", "experiencing", or "enjoying", but I didn't. Instead, I used the word "getting" to make a very important point - that success actually lies in the journey, not the end result.

Sure, it's going to feel great to know you have a profitable business. After all, now you don't have to worry about how you're going to pay the rent or buy groceries. But you'll actually feel better about the work you put into building the business than you will about spending the profits.

Don't believe me?

I recently worked on a project that took months to finish. I spent day and night working out the tiniest of details. But when everything was finished, I felt a little sad. Don't get me wrong - I was happy the project was done. I was even happier because I knew it was going to have a positive impact on people's lives. However, I had put so much into this project and now that it was done, I felt like my best friend was gone.

If it sounds strange, it shouldn't. Remember, true success is measured in the "getting", not the "having"!

Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's, summed up this phenomenon perfectly during an interview a few decades ago. Kroc had already created the biggest fast food chain on the planet, yet he was constantly opening new locations. When asked why, he said, "When you're green, you're growing. When you ripen, you rot!"

So get out there! Start "doing", instead of "wishing". As long as you're moving towards something you really want, you're a success. You don't have to wait until you hit a certain mark. If you're growing and making progress, you're a success - right now!


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Tony Mase is a serious student of the works of Wallace D. Wattles and the publisher of the "A Powerful Life: The Lost Writings of Wallace D. Wattles" ebook that includes "How to Get What You Want" by Wallace D. Wattles along with twenty-four other rare books and articles by Wallace D. Wattles. Grab your copy now at: http://www.wallacedwattles.com



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