What is this thing called success, and how do you attain it?

What does success look like to you?

When asked this question, many of us might point to someone else and say that he or she is successful; however, we may be judging success by observing only one dimension of this person's life. In selecting interview candidates for my books on success, my first criterion was that the interviewees needed to be successful in their own minds.

Most of the people I interviewed for my books are businesspersons. Although they all have attained success in their careers, they agree that a successful career is not the only component of a successful life. They are confident that they would be successful in any career they might have chosen and are happy with the person they are and what they're doing.

Defining Success

How do you personally define success?

When I have asked this question of those I have interviewed, I have received different answers from each of them. Following are some of the responses:

• Success is a feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment.
• Success is being able to look at the person in the mirror every morning and feel good that you are achieving what you set out to achieve and done so in an honorable way.
• Success is positive contribution to self, society, and the environment.
• Success is a feeling of continually moving forward but the ability to be happy standing still.
• Success is feeling happy each day.
• Success is the achievement of goals that are important to me.
• Success is a balance in personal and professional life.
• Success is living comfortably with who you are and what you have.
• Success is not only having a fulfilling career where I know I am making a difference, but it's also having time to pursue outside interests.
• Success is having peace of mind, free from unnecessary concern over the future and being able to dwell in the now moment.
• Success is when both my work and my personal life are fulfilling.
• Success is being known as a person with values and integrity.
• Success is a mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual balance in one's life.
• Business success is achieving a position in a profession the individual enjoys.
• Success is maintaining personally acceptable levels of progress toward identifiable personal goals.
• If I can positively touch one person, plant a seed, or do a good act, each day, then that day is successful.
• Success is the quiet peace of knowing I did my absolute best.
• Success is enjoying each day.
• Success is achieving one's full potential.

Becoming Successful

I truly believe that each of us has the potential to achieve greatness. To do this, you first need to believe in yourself.

When I was fourteen years old, my goal was to be a computer programmer, even though this was not a common field for women at that time. I believed that I could do this. Although I took some detours along the way, I became a computer programmer. Later, after I had designed computer systems for marketing and sales, I decided that I wanted to combine my computer experience with marketing to enhance the effectiveness of marketing and sales. This led to the management of functions that did not exist before I became involved in them, including an international marketing management position with offices in Paris and Brussels. All along, I knew that I could do it. And I did!

Once you have defined what success looks like for you, the next step is to visualize that success. Remember to visualize the result of this success as if it has already happened.

Be aware of your priorities in life, and set your goals and act according to these priorities. Be sure that your priorities are aligned with your values and your definition of success. The more you act according to your priorities, the more likely it will be that you will enjoy success.

Take time to focus on those things that are most important to you. You may need to practice focusing exercises in order to increase your ability to focus.

Evaluate your attitude each day, and stay away from the three C's - complaining, criticizing, and condemning. The more positive your attitude, the more you will attract that which is positive into your life.

Personal integrity is tantamount to success. Before making a commitment, be sure that you will keep it. Let your word be your bond.

Create balance in your life. Take time to be spontaneous and to have fun. We are meant to enjoy life.

Take advantage of every opportunity to learn. Before going to bed each night, think about the things that you have learned that day and the ways you will apply these things in creating your ideal life and in enriching the lives of others.

More information on each of the above success principles is contained in my previous blog posts.

So how do you define success? And how do you assure you are successful according to your definition?