Success in itself is antisuccessful term, almost trite in nature. A majority of people envision success as a material object or group of objects like a new house, car, money or anything of monetary value. This is only perpetuated by leadership and business books, movies, television and (of course) informercials.
When these goals are not reached due to lack of information or just plain too many obstacles to reach that specific item - we only achieve a feeling of dissappointment and inhibit our desire to go after a new goal.
Success becomes harder to reach because we only set our sights on objects. Even when we finally achieve them, we no more fulfill ourselves emotionally and spiritually than if we were to gain ten times more cars, boats or houses. Instead of success being defined as a specific item we should envision and promote success as a feeling or emotional state.
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced. Swami Vivekananda
When we aim our goals on a specific feeling or emotion we wish to develop we can make decisions based on short term gains and find small bits of fullfillment along the way. The quote “Life is a journey, not a destination” should read “Success is a journey, not a destination”.
When teaching strategy versus planning, I centered the focus on showing that there never is a straight line between us and our long term goals. Instead there are many little lines that zig zag back and forth based on decisions we make along the way. As long as each decision is aimed somewhere near our goals, we continue on our journey. While planning may work in a fixed environment, strategy like this is necessary when the future is not so fixed.
Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time. - Arnold Glasgow
Doing what is right, making those smart decisions and aiming to feel the emotional state of success will drive you much farther towards your goals then pinning up a picture of a Porsche on the wall.
