How do you define success?

Most people, sales people in particular, beat themselves up for constantly being on the brink of failure. Where as their real failure is missing the opportunity to recognize successes in both great and small circumstances.

Earl Nightingale, a pioneer in the audio development space has a simple yet profound description that changes the perception and challenge of ‘pie in the sky success’,to be more practical and realistic in its individual approach.

In his recording ‘The Strangest Secret’, Earl describes success to be the working towards a worthy ideal. Notice how it is the working towards the ideal that determines ones success and not necessarily the achievement of it.

This worthy ideal spans all walks of life and is driven by the passion you may have towards a particular calling, career, task or goal. Earl gives the example of a mother striving to be the best mother possible, the school teacher working to always teach to the best of her ability and the sales person giving their all. The mere fact that a meaningful effort is applied is significant enough to be recognized as a success.

To illustrate this form my point of view, here are a few examples of my successes:

• I succeed at being ethical in my work.
• I work hard to meet targets
• I finish major canoe races like The Duzi Canoe Marathon
• I work hard at making my marriage happy and life giving.

Notice how most of these success examples seem infinite, and that’s because they are.

You see, my successes are driven by my goals and I succeed by constantly working towards them. There are always ups and downs in the pursuit of a worthy ideal but the real success is in not giving up or letting go.

What is your success?

List all the areas in your live where you are working towards a worthy ideal.
If you have none let the establishment of a worthy ideal be your first success.

Recognizing successes, great and small is the starting point for achieving great goals in life.