This is a special post about Success, which I have written to celebrate the launch of the ultra-exciting Success Ebook by the one and only Jonny Gibaud of The Life Thing. He’s assembled 30 global bloggers to talk about Success: “What it is” and “How do you achieve it?” I am truly excited and honoured to be one of those bloggers. Don’t delay, step this way now to download your copy!
What comes to mind when you think about the word success? When Jonny asked me to write a post on this topic, I thought long and hard about success and what it means to me. And if I’m honest, I had some pretty outdated and interesting ideas rattling around my brain about what success is! Fast cars, mansions, and lots of money were the first things that came to mind. Now these are all well and good and I certainly wouldn’t refuse them if they came my way 
but if I look deeply within myself, that isn’t my idea of success.
My idea of success
My idea of success, is to be the person I want to be and live how I want to live. For me the person I want to be is adventurous, living life to the full, generous, authentic and kind. I want to live life to the full and dare to follow my dreams!
Be successful (not do successful!)
As I talked about in Who will you be in 2010? us humans often get things topsy turvy. We think by having and doing more, we will be who we want to be. For example, that we will make lots of money, find the person of our dreams and then we will BE successful. However the reality (whether we like it or not) is the other way around. We all know people who think the next bonus, or the new house or the new partner will make them happy … only to forever be chasing their tail!
You are successful right now!
YES! That’s right! Right now. There really is nowhere to get to.
Personal development is awesome and my passion, however we have to be careful not to be looking at ourselves as something to improve. I think this can be one of the biggest pitfalls in this field. We are perfect, whole and complete already. There is just more awesomeness to unleash!
What’s your definition of success?
Hi Ya Jen!
Well, it’s just great to know you are one of the finest bloggers in the market, and than John’s decided to include you on his list.
Congratulations! You go, girl! Yes, even from a non-blogger like me!
Success is relative. Every individual should have the freedom to define success on his/her own terms. Take your eccentricities into consideration.
For example, I own a car and can tell my driver to take me to any destination of my choosing.
However, success for me means walking in the outdoors, so I hoof it each and every time. One of these days I will have to sell my car, since I never use it anyway. So, take your idiosyncratic behavior into account when you pursue success. Don’t let the world define it for you.
After all, as the poet once said, life is short and time is fleeting…
Success is relative because what floats my boat may sink your boat!
I know people who approach me in order to show off their fancy clothes, homes, jewelery, salaries, etc. but that does not appeal to me at all.
For me, success means the bohemian lifestyle: simple and functional.
Even if I had all the money in the world, I would not change a thing.
Finally, success is an inner journey, although some people are hooked on its outer manifestations. Nothing wrong with such people, that’s just their way. So, let us not be too harsh in judging such people.
Live and let live. Or, as a philosopher put it once:
What’s your way?
This is my way.
The way doesn’t exist.
Wow Jen! I didn’t realise you were in this.
I donwloaded it off Jonny’s site over the weekend but didn’t spot you were in it.
I’m now off to go and read it all.
Very excited and pleased for you. You completely deserve it.
Have a great day!
Ben´s last blog ..How to be a better dad
Congratulations, Jen, both on this lovely post, and in being included in the eBook. You deserve it!
I think your definition is spot on. Isn’t it amazing how much happier and lighter one can feel when you allow yourself to be successful right now?!
Love it!
Christine´s last blog ..How to make sure you never get ahead
Jen, would you be willing to explain a bit more the comment “…however we have to be careful not to be looking at ourselves as something to improve?”
I was wondering why so many post today are about success
)
Eduard @ Ideas With A Kick´s last blog ..The Law of Attraction vs. Science
Hi Jen,
I love that. “You are successful right now.” That’s true. In some ways, chasing success for ever is a sad thing. If you’re doing what you want to do, happy and feel your life is meaningful, then I feel your life is successful.
Gordie´s last blog ..Short-Term Gains Are Shorter Term Than You Think.
Helloo Archan!
Great to see you again …I’ve gotta say you leave brilliant comments!
You are so right – success really is an individual thing. Loved what you said here…”Even if I had all the money in the world, I would not change a thing.”
Jen
ps – are you going to become a blogger?
Cheers Ben!
and thank you for the lovely comment.
thanks Christine!
I think you’re right … it is about the here and now isn’t it?
Hi Nelia.
Lovely to see you here and of course – I think there can be a trap of using personal development as a way to ‘fix’ ourselves i.e. thinking there is something wrong with us (on some level) and by doing x, y, z we will ‘be better’. I wanted to highlight that we are perfect already! there may be things to develop, but done in an empowering context is much more powerful than trying to fix oursleves.
Thanks Gordie! Spot on.
Hi Eduard!
Yep – it’s the blogosphere’s official success day!
Hi Jen!
I like what you say here! Yes, success is already with each and every one of us. We are perfect just the way we are and we should focus more on actually being a human-being instead of a human-doing (note: I ‘stole’ this from Jon Kabat-Zinn
Most importantly, don’t let others define success for you. This is easier said than done since we are constantly influenced by outside opinions. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, it just is. I encourage people to constantly question their motives. How do I define success? What does success really mean to me? Am I constantly doing in order to achieve my so-called success or is it possible to consider myself a success right here and now? How would that feel?
I think that doing this exercise can help quite a bit.
Nate´s last blog ..Mindful Eating
Hey Nate!
Absolutely! and I love that quote.
I agree, and I think the more we take the time to tune out the ever present opinions around us (not necessarily bas as you say, but it is healthy to switch off now and then) and listen to our authentic selves the more we know what we want.
I remember a guy at college told me I was crazy for joining the Peace Corps (“why waste 2 years of your life volunteering?”) while he explained his dream of having a Jaguar car with a license place that used a $ in his name. I felt like we came from different planets. This example is an extreme, but it shows that each person has his own definition of success. The trick is making sure your view of success is really your own and not someone else’s or society’s.
When I think of success, I think of being content with my decisions (i.e., no “what if”), contributing to a community, and being able to help out when a loved one needs it.
Audrey´s last blog ..The Joy of Living Deliberately: 7 Questions
Hi Jen,
loved this!!! and congrats on the ebook.
success is relative and what may be termed as success for person A may be a starting point or of no relevance for B.
in your words’ You are succesful right now.’
Take care
ayo´s last blog ..I Am A Victim Of Gossip
Hey jen,
Great post. I love the simple and to the point posts lately since I am so busy. I do agree, sometimes we get hung up on trying to be better then we are and forget how great we are in the moment. I have a completely different life then I had 8 months ago and have more I need to do, but I am very successful already. I am glad that you reminded us all of that.
Look forward to more.
Spot on Audrey! I think a lot of the time it is ‘filtering out’ the noise and opinions around us about what success ‘should’ be. Thanks for sharing your definition of success …. loved the no “what if”! Great stuff. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks Ayo!
I’ve got to say, it’s always a delight to see a comment from you .. you have such a smiley avatar and always leave such positive comments. 
Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed this.
Thanks Jeff! I appreciate your feedback, I sometimes worry that I should be doing longer posts, but I do like short and to the point too and I really am glad it works for you.
I am glad you enjoyed the post.
Jen
Another fantastic post, I’m drawn to this site a lot lately.
You are totally right about being a success right now, too many pesimistic people on the net lately, it’s all out there you just have to go and get it, it’s what life is all about for me.
Life is way too short in this spoilt little world we live in.
TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..The Day My Wife Almost Died
Well said!
Like your definition, for me success looks like being comfortable in my own skin and having confidence to move in the direction of my heart’s desire.
Congratulations Jen! Here’s to unleashing Awesomeness!
Sheila McCann´s last blog ..Fishegg # 75 The five stages of death/grief/loss
Thanks James! I really appreciate your positive feedback.
Completely agree – it’s there for the taking, attitude really is everything!
Hi Alex!
Lovely to see you here and I am glad you enjoyed the article.
Jen
Cheers Sheila! I like it!
Jen,
I tend to think that all bloggers are already successes. Why? Because all bloggers are building an extension of themselves. Almost like having a child. Your blog is in your own image and, if you have already put the effort in to build a blog, you are successful! Maybe there are some bloggers that are more popular than others but are they more successful? I think not. Success, as you so aptly put, isn’t defined by the money, big houses, and the fast cars. I live in a town filled people with big houses and fast cars and most of these people aren’t happy with their lives. To me, they are not successes.
Success comes from within and I think even though we are always looking to improve, it doesn’t mean we haven’t already met with success.
Best,
Bob
Bob Bessette´s last blog ..A Practical Home Solution for an Ugly Roof.
Hi Bob
We are ALL successful right now without any external validation or possessions. It really might not feel like that at times, but I think if we all got that, the world would be a better place.
Success should be about being the best you can be each day of your life. Having fun and sharing all you can with everyone around you.
When we think of success, you’re right, a lot of people imagine nice cars and lots of money and a mansion and the like. The questions is, do we want those because that’s what has been engrained into our brain that success IS or because that’s what we actually really want.
Great post and how do I want to be successful? Living each day without regret and knowing I’ve done everything I can as well as learning and taking action in every way that does any kind of good would be my way. There’s a lot more but there’s just a bit for ya.
Eric´s last blog ..Lets Help Each Other
Hey Eric!
Lovely to see you here. I love your definitions of success! I think as you point out if we approach each day with the attitude of being our best and no regrets it will stand us in good stead.
HI Jen, Thanks for being involved in the project. You are awesome.
Jonny | thelifething.com´s last blog ..6 Life Success Lessons I Learnt Recently That Let Me Lead An Awesome Life
Hey Jonny!
My pleasure. It was a brilliant idea!
Jen
Good post Jen – I agree that we are all already successful. Just being alive is an incredible accomplishment from an evolutionary perspective.
Thanks for the insights!
Steven | The Emotion Machine´s last blog ..The Uses And Abuses Of Setting Deadlines
Hi Steven.
Thanks for dropping in and very true!
Jen
My definition of success is, finding your talents and strengths, growing in them and using them to help others.
Knowing will give you a purpose.
Growing will give you potential.
Using will bring fulfillment.
Knowing+Growing+Using= Success!
Dan Black´s last blog ..Leading with Character
Hey Dan
What a beautiful definition of success! Thank you for sharing it here.
Jen