What is success?

In the modern world success is often equated with money, luxuries and fame. It is believed that if you are not rich or famous you are "common" man and you are far from being successful. Somebody will also advice or motivate to run after money, acquire luxuries and be famous. However, one needs to understand the true meaning of success and try to be successful in his own terms.

Simply put success is achieving your set goals. It is not necessary that your goals should always include material progress. Unfortunately, many people (including parents, relatives and friends) expect material progress from you so as to call you as successful.

It is very important for individuals to understand what success means for them and work to achieve it. Meaning of success can be totally different for different people. For one person it may mean money and for the other it may mean spiritual progress. In the modern world people are becoming more and more "consumers". Luxuries are quickly becoming part of our daily lives and striving to "buy" those luxuries has become prime job for many. This leads to false interpretation of success. I have seen people who want to work abroad just because they can earn more money and their friends or some relatives are doing the same thing. This not only leads to stressed life but also gives you "empty" feeling in later years.

I often ask my training participants about their ambition in life. But sadly many do not have clear idea about what they want to be in life and pathway going there. Some have goals and ambitions but do not have skills to achieve them. It is not only important to have goals but equally important is the attitude to acquire the necessary skills. One can not say he will become the best architect or project manager unless he has the required skills. In short to be successful one should have:

• Clear idea of what success means for him
• Attitude to learn the required skills
• Willingness to work hard to achieve the set goals