How do You Define Success

Success - How do you define it? Dictionary.com first entry says “the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.” After reading that definition, I felt disgusted. Not only with the wording of the definition, but with the entire thought process that must have gone into it. How can we define success as the end of something, as if once we achieve it, we are done?

I believe very strongly that success is not the end goal that we must work towards, but rather success is the way of life that we must work and live with. It is a mindset that can be learned, practiced, and perfected as we develop our passion.

As entrepreneurs, you have to be doing what you love in order to achieve great things. But is it not a success to be doing what you love? I think that the two go hand in hand, and the very nature of the entrepreneurial spirit is to have the mindset of success. Sure monetary success will come later, but you have to start somewhere. I don’t believe that you can call what most entrepreneurs do a “failure” just because their companies don’t blow up or go public. Doing what you love is a success in my book.

And if you think like that, then the hard work that you put into starting a company can seem all that much easier. Sure the work is no different, but when you have the mindset that you have already achieved something, the end goal seems a little clearer. And when that weight of potential failure is lifted off of your shoulders, SUCCESS is the feeling that follows. Work creatively, work confidently, work successfully…