My Definition of Success Essay - 1399 Words

Do you know someone rich and famous? Is that person confident, popular, and joyful all of the time—the epitome of mainstream success? Or, on the other hand, is the person stressed, having second thoughts about his life choices, and unsure about the meaning of his life? I am willing to bet that it is the second one. Mainstream marketing and media have effectively brainwashed our society into accepting a false, even potentially dangerous definition of success. Marketers want us to believe that having lots of money, living in a big house, and owning all of the latest cars, fashions, and technology is the key to happiness, and hence, success. This overstated, falsely advertised myth is hardly ever the case in real life. True success requires†¦show more content†¦It also gives us a clue that success includes being able to face and overcome failure and struggles. Albert Einstein advises us to â€Å"try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.† The focus on being a â€Å"person of value† stresses that the criteria for success is not money or power but integrity and compassion. Henry Ford identified the secret of a successful life as â€Å"to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.† What these quotes have in common is that success involves principles beyond the material. The quotes identify determination, integrity, and self-fulfillment as essential characteristics of success. Marketers want us to believe that living a selfish life, involving nothing but the pursuit of money and fame will bring success and happiness. Sadly, this is not true. Similarly, popularity and fame are hardly ever synonymous with success. Mind-numbing advertisements that are incessantly flaunted to Americans have become ingrained into memory and habit, altering the accepted definition of success into something shame-worthy. â€Å"Success† has been sadly commercialized to represent fame and popularity. Ironically, the most well-liked and popular people often have less confidence, talent, and freedom than those who choose to follow the compass of theirShow MoreRelatedMy Definition of Success Essay933 Words   |  4 Pagespersonality and duplicate it. – Bruce Lee – What is success? Society is always striving for a definition to define it and how others can and have achieved it. This paper will illustrate the definition of success, what makes society success or not success, and what my personal definition of success is. This will show how twisted and materialistic people can really be in today’s world. In the dictionary.com definition success is the achievement of something desired, planned, or attemptedRead MoreEssay on My Definition of Success1046 Words   |  5 Pages In his poem, â€Å"What is Success,† Ralph Waldo Emerson gave priceless insight when he wrote: To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have livedRead MoreMy Definition of Success Essays2239 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Success is the peace that comes with knowing your accomplishments have purpose.† – Hutch Putnam – Success is a word that really hard to define, because everyone will have a different definition for this word. In fact, there no exact definition for the word success. For a student, maybe the success means to pass all courses of the semester; for a business man, signing a importance contract and get a lot of money are successes; and for a president, leading the country to develop and make theRead MoreMy Definition of Success Essays499 Words   |  2 Pages When I think of success, I think of a bumper sticker I saw once which read, â€Å"He who dies the most toys wins†. That has always stuck with me because I have never thought of material possessions as the yard stick of my success in life. As everyone wishes, I would like to be comfortable and not always worrying about bills but, extravagance for the sake of status is not success. I think success in a person is defined by happiness and people’s pride in being a good person.Read MoreEssay about My Definition of Success557 Words   |  3 PagesSuccess is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill -- Success is defined as the favorable termination of attempts or endeavors and the accomplishment of one’s goals. When I hear the word success, I think of my friend and my teacher, Mrs. Regina Kynes. I consider her successful because she has a strong family, a favorable career, and she is the most generous person that I know. Mrs. Kynes is respected and admired by those who see herRead MoreMy Definition of Success Essay examples504 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest crtics and endure the betrayl of flase friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed  easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.   – Ralph Waldo Emerson -- I define success by howRead MoreMy Definition of Success Essay example496 Words   |  2 PagesTry not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.† – Albert Einstein -- My personal definition would not include â€Å"stuff† at all. No one will care (and neither will you) what kind of car your drove or how big your house was when you’re on your deathbed. Your thoughts will not be about your job, the office or how much money you made. Personal success is defined by how content and enjoyable your life is. That is not to say that challenges and disappointments aren’tRead MoreMy Definition Of Success Has Changed Over The Years Much Simpler At Twenty And Now Essay2539 Words   |  11 Pages My definition of success has changed over the years much simpler at five and sixteen then it was at twenty and now. I imagine it will change many more times in my life, redefining success is part of growing up, part of the process that shapes who we are, as our values change as our goals change our definition of success will also. Defining success is no simple task because what success means to you may be very different than what it means to me, yes it has a general definition that is in theRead MoreEssay on Success: Damaging for the Student Soul1082 Words   |  5 Pages Society’s definition of success is a negative influence on students. This is not to say that obtaining â€Å"success† itself means badly. Rather, it is what society perceives success to be that makes it detrimental. By inherently putting the focus on â€Å"success†, man is essentially putting himself on the road of self-destruction and sabotaging his self-identity. In fact, success is a w ord that should not exist. It is a reflection of man’s over-egoistical need to better than others, and will ultimatelyRead MoreThe American Dream996 Words   |  4 PagesMy definition of American Dream If we ask most Americans what is the American Dream? the common answers are to become successful, rich, owning houses, cars and etc. In other countries, many people see America as a land of opportunities for a better life and that is the reason why they come here. Every individual who come to America have their goals or dreams that they want to fulfill in life that they can not fulfill in their own country. In another word, their American dream are to have better