The Definition Of Success Has Changed In These Times And Here's Why You Need To Understand It

The archaic definition of success is the ¡®good or the bad outcome of an undertaking¡¯. This is now obsolete because the resultant is not considered a ¡®success¡¯, unless it is a favorable outcome. It is interesting to note why success was defined in the above mentioned way in the past. It was meant to recognise the sum total of the best efforts that were put into the process. The end result was not regarded as the sole definition of success.

This was because it was well understood that the final product is an amalgamation of various factors other than solely the efforts made towards it.

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As things change with time, so has the definition of success. It is not satisfactory to consider the best intended attempts as constituting success. It is, rather, defined as having achieved a feat or outdone other attempts at the same task. There are various definitions of success, each one employing varied parameters to define and ascertain it. There would be a matrix involving objective metrics that validate success for some. They would rely on the accolades of their job title, monetary acquisitions and related accomplishments.

For some, the more subjective indicators of peace of mind, friends and family life, and leisurely time would hold more relevance. Irrespective of the description, it is universally true that all human beings strive towards success.

There are individual and group targets that are set by one and all and these are as varied as the weather throughout the week.

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There are different types of goals. They could be as concrete as acquiring a job and plotting a growth trajectory in a career; to abstract ideologies like helping those that are in need, or keeping a positive frame of mind. It is interesting to note that most people plan their goals as an amalgamation of the practical needs of a situation as well as personal idiosyncrasies. There cannot be an isolation of the two. This is because there is an assault of more than one isolated thought or situation on the mind, and hence, it conceptualises more than one singular direction at a time.

It is implausible for an individual to be able to segregate and focus on either simply objective tangible goals or merely figurative ones. Even if one were to do so, the accomplishment of the goal would not lead to desired contentment - as there would be simultaneous areas that would need attention.

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While some would simply say that success is achieved when a conceived goal is achieved, others may argue that success can only be claimed when exceptional results are attained while valuable experiences and memories were created along the way. They may simply not be content with the accomplishment of the set objective, and the path taken could be an important indicator in ascertaining their triumph.

The most fascinating aspect here is, that for an individual, victory could mean either of the above or a merger of these parameters - and their importance would change from situation to situation.

It is important to understand and accept this fluidity in the meaning of win, to be able to better work towards it and enjoy it.

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It is imperative to access a situation, and particularly define success in its context. This would help set a clear well defined goal. This is followed by working towards it and determining progress. Once there is clarity on the goal being objective or subjective, it is easier to gauge the steps forward and have realistic expectations from the outcome. This prevents the anxiety of anticipating similar tangibility from dissimilar goals. It also helps to define the achievements individually, as opposed to using a generic yard stick that may do little justice to certain endeavors.

At this point, it is wise to also incorporate the meaning of failure - which also varies as much as its antonym. Failure could mean not having reached the goal, or it could also mean having reached the resultant albeit having taken an undesired path. Defining failure is often neglected as it isn¡¯t given due thought. It is vital to have a lucid notion of what must be avoided in order to not let it negate success.

The clarity on what will lead to a letdown will help avoid those strides.

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Lastly, it is essential to appreciate all positive growth in the attainment of a target, and to savor its attainment before moving on to set another one. There must be acceptance that while certain achievements will have material methods and tangible returns to authenticate them, there may be goals whose success cannot be defined. There must be clarity on the parallel co-existence, and importance of both kinds of undertakings. One may take precedence at a particular time, only to give way when the next target beckons.