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Matt Zenittini
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 27 Feb 2009 14:06
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A recent post got me to thinking about success.
I headed over to dictionary.com and looked it up.
The first definition read:
"The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors."
I really like that definition because it shows success is achieved through your own work.
The next definition states:
"The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like."
This is much broader and I would think to include things like inheriting money or being born into a royal family or something of the sort.
So are you born with success?
Do you earn success?
Does money mean you are successful?
Can you be successful without money or power?
Are you successful?
I was just thinking about it =].
How does everyone else feel about success? It is such a large topic for such a tiny word =D.
Matthew Zenittini
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Newbie Shield
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 1533
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# Posted: 27 Feb 2009 17:15
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Hi Matt,
It has to do with attitude, planning, and effort. Progress and attainment are entirely secondary. They can be evaluated and adjusted as needed.
Don't believe what you hear about success unless it sounds something like the above paragraph. I'll take my oath on it ;)
~Newbie Shield~
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Matt Zenittini
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 27 Feb 2009 17:18
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Does that mean success is a mindset?
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Newbie Shield
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 1533
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# Posted: 27 Feb 2009 19:05
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Hi Matt,
Yes, that's part of what I said.
However, understand it in context. The context is that you posted it within a Work At Home Forum. I commented on your statements from that perspective.
I was explaining what it takes to maximize the chances of succeeding in the online marketing industry.
While there are other ways to use the word or concept of success, I feel that the mainstream definitions are usually shallow and very lacking.
It is largely a mindset without attachment to the results in this particular context.
Mind if I put it to the test for you in a different context? If a man or woman has been making over $250k/year USD for the last 10 years are they successful? Is income a thorough or is it even a fairly good measuring stick?
What if that person was very healthy, well-liked, appreciated, helpful to others, and was a great all around person before they became wealthy. What if the opposite became true after and since they first became wealthy?
Would you still consider them to be successful? What if their "success" cost them their friendships, marriage, health, and their good reputation? What if they started hanging around selfish and mean people? What if they became selfish and mean?
So, how can we possibly attribute income and material wealth or even success on a few projects to be the very definition of success?
Wouldn't it follow that success has more to do with mindset, character, research, planning, effort, and the like?
Outward signs are helpful in determining success but they are only part of the puzzle and I feel that they are very much overrated.
Focusing more on effort, etc will maximize the chances of success and bring a lot more peace than focusing on the outer results.
Your thoughts on the matter?
~Newbie Shield~
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Vishal P. Rao
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 957
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# Posted: 27 Feb 2009 23:54
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According to me, holistically, Success is Contentment. Material wealth, health, power does not define success as such. If you are contented with yourself, if you love yourself, then you are successful. As simple as that. If you have wealth, health, power and you're still craving for more, then you are still a pauper! Only your bench marks have changed.
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 1209
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2009 00:08
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Vishal P. Rao: According to me, holistically, Success is Contentment. Material wealth, health, power does not define success as such. If you are contented with yourself, if you love yourself, then you are successful. As simple as that. If you have wealth, health, power and you're still craving for more, then you are still a pauper! Only your bench marks have changed.
amen - very well said and so true!
Newbie Shield: Focusing more on effort, etc will maximize the chances of success and bring a lot more peace than focusing on the outer results.
I agree so much. It is so easy to get focused on results, but as soon as we do that we tend to get impatient , or at least I do. And if I just focus on doing something constructive every day, regardless of the outcome that day, I do much better.
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Sonni
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Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 347
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2009 00:49
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I kind of like this, A quote by Obi-Wan Kenobi:
The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
Okay, what's this got to do with anything? I don't know I'm tired!
Sonni
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TshirtFrank
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Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 30
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# Posted: 28 Feb 2009 18:03
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This is a great post.
I think that success is a multi faceted window and the realization of success can be looked at through different lenses. If you set your goals and you reach them that can be considered personal success. However I think that in our society "success" looks a certain way and other people gauge it by your business acomplishements, the car you drive etc. That brings up the question is success a character quality or something that can be gauged by signs of wealth?
Just random thoughts!
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thebart
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Joined: 1 Mar 2009
Posts: 5
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2009 13:36
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Success is attaining the goals that you set for yourself. No one can set the bar any higher or lower than you set if for yourself. An individual can out perform or underperform their piers, but if they meet the goals that they set out for themselves they are successful. Success is about understanding what you want, determining a plan to achieve the goal and then working without rest to make the intangible tangible.
Chris
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 376
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2009 19:08 · Edited by: A8ch
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Interesting discussion!
TshirtFrank: I think that success is a multi faceted window and the realization of success can be looked at through different lenses.
I agree, and those lenses are two-way; one with a view for the observer, the other for the observed, and they never reveal the same thing.
TshirtFrank: That brings up the question is success a character quality or something that can be gauged by signs of wealth?
Good question. I think the answer must include elements of character as well as outward signs of wealth, because it's impossible to guage character except through deeds and their outward manifestations.
If I provide for my family, pay my bills, give regularly to charity and honor my civic responsibilities, it conveys a (partial) sense of who I am. That perspective will be enlarged if I also live in a mansion and drive expensive cars. Do these things make me a success? Most observers would say they do.
But what if I am also miserable and unhappy because I earn my money doing something I hate? I may not be inclined to think of myself as a success, inspite of the trappings.
Newbie Shield: Outward signs are helpful in determining success but they are only part of the puzzle and I feel that they are very much overrated. Focusing more on effort, etc will maximize the chances of success and bring a lot more peace than focusing on the outer results.
Well said Shield, and I agree entirely. The outer results ought to be considered incidentals, rather than objectives.
Vishal P. Rao: If you are contented with yourself, if you love yourself, then you are successful. As simple as that.
Vishal, I like the way you go to the primordial core of the matter. You peel away the superficial layers we (in our ignorance and arrogance) often use to clutter and confuse. It is profound in its simplicity.
Hermas
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gillette
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Joined: 1 Mar 2009
Posts: 4
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2009 19:15
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Hi Matt
Sounds like you've got a long way to go:
here's some of my favourite quotes for success, which I can honestly say is true in my case
"Success is not only more money, promotion and social status. It is also more happiness, harmonious relationships and spiritual growth". Amen
Success is the outcome of thinking, visualizing, planning and taking action.
Attaining peace of mind, happiness, satisfaction, inner strength, spiritual enlightenment and realizing the inner self is spiritual success.
Attaining good health, love, good relationships, promotion, status, money and possessions, and realizing desires and ambitions is material success.
May you be sucessfull one day 
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WealthyWAHM
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Joined: 2 Apr 2006
Posts: 98
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2009 19:33
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Vishal P. Rao: According to me, holistically, Success is Contentment. Material wealth, health, power does not define success as such. If you are contented with yourself, if you love yourself, then you are successful. As simple as that. If you have wealth, health, power and you're still craving for more, then you are still a pauper! Only your bench marks have changed.
I definitely agree with your assessment, Vishal. Achieving success might require each of us to take a totally different path but the result of success is the same for us all- contentment in our life and our own self-purpose.
Matt Zenittini: The first definition read: "The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors."
The only part that I don't like about this definition, Matt, is the word "termination"- I personally don't see my pursuit of success as having an end... Even if I feel I am a success due to my contentment with my current circumstances, I continue to push forward to enhance my success.
Perhaps "success" can have different levels?
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Matt Zenittini
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2009 10:16
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Wow so much information in this thread  .
I was off for the weekend but now that I am back it is very informative to read.
I never really focus on becoming successful so I never really thought much about it. I generally focus on things that I need to accomplish. (goal setting).
When I got to thinking about it I started thinking what do I need to accomplish to be successful in life.
It is very interesting reading everyone's responses =].
I hope this thread helped more people than just me so far! =].
Thanks,
Matthew Zenittini
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