- Making a difference and having a meaningful impact on others, whether it’s through leadership, innovation, creativity, philanthropy, or social change, points to success.
- If your choice is a failure, then you won’t achieve success; make good choices and success will be your guide.
- Ultimately, success is a personal journey, and each person has the freedom to determine what it means to them. For proverbially, nothing comes on a silver plate; let’s wake up and embrace hard work.
Success is a subjective concept that individuals can define differently based on their values, goals, and aspirations.
Generally, success refers to the achievement of a desired outcome or the attainment of a goal. It often involves a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and fulfillment.
Measuring success
Success can be measured in the following ways:
Personal fulfillment: This involves feeling contented, happy, and fulfilled in various aspects of life, including relationships, career, personal growth, and well-being.
Goal achievement: Accomplishing specific objectives or targets that you set, whether they are related to education, career, finances, health, or other areas of life.
Recognition and accolades: Receiving recognition, awards, or acknowledgment for one’s accomplishments or contributions in a particular field or domain is an indicator of success.
In today’s world, you cannot be recognized without leaving a legacy.
Impact and influence: Making a difference and having a meaningful impact on others, whether it’s through leadership, innovation, creativity, philanthropy, or social change, also points to success.
Overcoming challenges: Successfully navigating obstacles, setbacks, and adversity and demonstrating resilience, determination, and perseverance in the face of difficulties can also mean a successful experience.
If students aspire to learn, they should be ready to learn by overcoming challenges despite whatever circumstances they may go through.
It’s important to note that success is entirely individualistic, and what may be considered a success for one person may not be the same for another.
It’s essential to define success based on your own values, aspirations, and priorities rather than relying solely on external or societal standards.
Success pillars
The pillars of success are the foundational principles or key elements that contribute to achieving success in various areas of life.
While different individuals and sources may have different perspectives on what these pillars entail, here are some commonly recognized pillars of success:
Goal setting: Clearly defining and setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals is essential. Having a clear sense of direction and purpose helps to provide focus and motivation.
Persistence and resilience: Maintaining determination, perseverance, and a positive mindset, even in the face of challenges, setbacks, and failures, is a cornerstone of success. Resilience allows you to bounce back, learn from experiences, and continue moving forward.
Hard work and diligence: Consistently putting in effort, dedication, and remaining disciplined acts towards your goals. Success often requires consistent and focused work done over time.
Continuous learning and adaptation: Embracing a growth mindset and being open to learning from experiences, seeking new knowledge, and adapting to changes positions you for success.
Continuous learning helps you stay relevant, improve skills, and innovate new pathways.
Self-discipline and time management: Cultivating self-discipline to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and maintain consistency in work habits would help you attain success.
This includes setting boundaries, avoiding distractions, and staying organized. Evidently, time is a core factor of production; whatever you do counts. To be successful, you have to plan your time well.
Networking and relationship building: Building strong connections and relationships with those around you in your field or area of interest expands your social capital.
Networking provides opportunities, support, mentorship, and valuable insights. You can network through social media platforms, uplifting you and empowering you to launch to greater heights.
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness: Developing emotional intelligence, understanding and managing emotions effectively, and having self-awareness of your strengths, weaknesses, and values is paramount.
Emotional intelligence helps build relationships, make sound decisions, and handle conflicts.
Adaptability and flexibility: Staying open to change, embracing new ideas, and being flexible in your approaches are vital. Adaptability allows you to navigate uncertainties and seize opportunities.
Integrity and ethics: Maintaining honesty, ethical behavior, and integrity in your actions and decisions. Acting with integrity builds trust, credibility, and long-term success.
Work-life balance: Striving for a healthy balance between work, personal life, and well-being. Taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial for sustained success.
Pioneers of success
Anton Chekhov, a Russian playwright, said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
He emphasizes the importance of showing rather than merely telling, suggesting that success may lie in the ability to portray and capture the essence of a situation or experience.
Adding on the same, “A man is what he believes.”
This suggests that one’s beliefs and mindset play a crucial role in shaping their identity and ultimately influencing their ability to achieve success.
In his book, In Your Hands, Lie Your Future, Eric Opingo, a renowned scholar, argues, “Your destiny lies in your hands and can be molded with each passing day by the choices you make.”
Do you know?
Everybody is conceived for a purpose and packaged with great potential to solve a problem in his family, society, country and generation.
Moses was conceived with the answer to the sufferings of the Israelites who were enslaved people in Egypt.
As much as Jonah was running away from God to Tarshish, he had the answer for the people of Ninevah, who were dying from their wickedness.
Mary carried in her womb the son of God, Jesus, who was the answer to a lost generation. Graves and cemeteries are full of people who died with their unrevealed answers to the questions that remain unanswered in society.
Streets are full of young people who are engaging in prostitution, crime, taking drugs, alcohol and other harmful substances, and they are dying with the answers to many unanswered questions.
Instead of expelling students due to indiscipline, administrators in schools and colleges should nurture them to change, for they are packed with the potential to be the answers of their generation.
If you were to meet your Creator today, would He say, “Well done, my faithful servant?”
Have you answered the questions you were sent to answer? Only through success can you achieve this, and you will save your generation from the absurds of poverty.
Act today
Take action toward your success today!
Define your vision: Take the time to clarify your goals and create a vivid vision of what success means to you. Envision the future you desire and the achievements you want to accomplish.
Set specific goals: Break down your vision into tangible and measurable goals. Make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) and write them down. This will provide clarity and focus to your actions.
Create an action plan: Develop a detailed plan of action that outlines the steps you need to take to reach your goals. Identify the resources, skills, and knowledge you need and create a timeline for each task.
Take consistent action: Commit to taking consistent and focused action towards your goals. Remember that success is built on small, consistent steps taken daily. Start now and keep moving forward.
Embrace learning and growth: Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and growth.
Seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge, develop new skills, and refine your expertise. Be open to feedback and learn from both successes and failures.
Surround yourself with support: Seek out a supportive network of individuals who believe in your goals and can provide guidance, encouragement, and accountability. Collaborate with like-minded people who can inspire and challenge you to grow.
Overcome obstacles, stay resilient: Anticipate and prepare for obstacles along the way. Develop resilience to bounce back from setbacks and learn from challenges. Embrace a positive mindset and view obstacles as opportunities for growth.
Stay focused and prioritize: Eliminate distractions and prioritize your time and energy towards activities that align with your goals. Be disciplined and make choices that bring you closer to success, even if it means saying no to certain distractions or commitments.
Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the journey. Take time to reflect on your progress, appreciate how far you’ve come, and reward yourself for achieving milestones.
Believe in yourself: Cultivate self-belief and confidence in your abilities. Trust that you have what it takes to succeed and that your efforts will make a difference. Believe in your vision and stay committed to making it a reality.
Remember, success is a personal and unique journey. Embrace the challenges, stay focused, and take consistent action. With determination, resilience, and a clear vision, you have the power to achieve the success you desire. Start now and make today the day you take a step closer to your dreams!
Ultimately, success is a personal journey, and each person has the freedom to determine what it means to them. For proverbially, nothing comes on a silver plate; let’s wake up and embrace hard work.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Why students should embrace career education and guidance
If your choice is a failure, then you won’t achieve success; make good choices and success will be your guide.
