Everyone has a different vision of success. How do you define it?
Maybe success to you is financial reward. Maybe it’s associated with a certain lifestyle. Maybe it’s a feel-good thing or knowing that you’re having a positive impact. Or perhaps success for you is defined by the achievement of fame.
We’re all along the pursuit of success. That’s the easy part, though.
See, I believe that we all want success, but very few of us actually want to be successful.
I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but there is a very clear distinction here.
Success is defined in your own way, we’ve already discussed that. Being successful is the act of achieving that success.
The difference between success and successful is the word “achieving”; it’s a qualifier. It’s what separates the pursuit of success from the result itself.
Do you notice anything peculiar about the word “achieving”?
I do. It ends with the suffix “ing”, which is used to denote action. It transforms the noun “achieve” into a verb. It means movement, motion, progress and action.
Therefore, being successful is inherently a verb. It requires movement, motion, progress and action.
And so you see now how success is actually realized through movement, motion, progress and action.
Being successful isn’t something that is handed to you. It’s not spoon-fed and it’s not served up on a silver platter. It’s not for the faint-of-heart and it’s not for those who are lazy. It’s not something you can buy, and it’s not something you can fast-track your way to.
Being successful comes with action. With movement. With motion. By making progress.
Do you want to be successful? Then you must work hard. You must make difficult decisions. You must make sacrifices. You must put in the time. You must be open enough to learn and humble enough to teach. You must be ok to fail and you must be strong enough to get back up.
If you want success, you must show up every single day. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month.
You must do the work.
The pursuit of success is easy. Achieving it requires action.
I said earlier that “everyone wants success, but very few actually want to be successful”, and it’s clear to see how that is in fact the case. Based on the discussion we’ve had thus far, I could re-phrase that to say “everyone wants success, but very few actually want to do the work to get there.”
My friend Rory Vadin puts it perfectly:
“Success is never owned; it is only rented – and the rent is due every day”
Work hard, every day, and you’ll get there.
