Society often defines success as attaining wealth, power, and status. The dictionary defines it as the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted (Grouden & Jose, 2015). However, I believe that success is much more than just material gain or the attainment of a set goal. Success is the ongoing process of becoming the best version of oneself and making a positive impact on the world.
The path to success is more important than arriving at the finish line. It is the accumulation of seemingly little day-to-day activities that ultimately result in personal development and advancement. It is not just about establishing and accomplishing goals but also about gaining knowledge and developing as a result of the trip itself. It is not enough to just amass a particular amount of money or get a certain amount of notoriety; rather, one must strive to develop into a complete version of themselves, both in their personal and professional life.
The road to success is one that must be travelled slowly and with complete commitment. It is the accumulation of seemingly little day-to-day activities that ultimately result in personal development and advancement. The journey to obtaining success is not only about accumulating a particular amount of income or gaining a certain amount of notoriety; rather, it is about developing oneself to become an ideal version of oneself, both personally and professionally. This not only involves planning and attaining objectives but also gaining knowledge and developing oneself as a result of the journey itself.
For example, an individual who is working towards becoming a successful entrepreneur may set a goal to start and grow their own business. Along the way, they may face obstacles such as lack of funding or difficulty finding the right team members. However, instead of giving up, they learn from these experiences and use them to make adjustments to their business plan and strategies. They also grow as a person by learning how to handle stress, make difficult decisions, and build resilience.
Another example could be an individual who is working towards becoming a successful athlete. They may set a goal to win a specific competition or achieve a certain level of performance. Along the way, they may experience injuries or setbacks in training. But, instead of giving up, they learn from these experiences and use them to make adjustments to their training plan. They also grow as a person by learning how to handle adversity, set priorities and maintain discipline.
In both examples, achieving the set goal is important, but it is not the only measure of success. The journey itself, and the personal growth and self-improvement that come with it, are just as important. It is about becoming the best version of oneself, both personally and professionally. Success is not a destination but a continuous journey of self-discovery and self-improvement.
The first step in achieving success is setting a clear and achievable goal. This goal should align with one’s values and passions and should be something that truly motivates and inspires the individual. The process of achieving this goal should be challenging but also rewarding and fulfilling (Grouden & Jose, 2015). Along the way, one should also be open to learning and growing, as well as making adjustments to the goal as necessary.
The second step in achieving success is taking action. This means putting in the hard work and effort to achieve the goal and being willing to take risks and make sacrifices. It also means being resilient in the face of obstacles and setbacks and not giving up when things get tough. It is about having the drive, determination, and persistence to see things through to the end.
The third step in achieving success is making a positive impact on the world. This means using one’s skills, talents, and resources to help others and make a difference in the world. It is about being a responsible and ethical member of society and using one’s success to make a positive impact on others. This step is not only important for the people and causes one is helping, but it also brings a sense of fulfilment and purpose to one’s own life.
One example of this is the case of Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. He is known not only for his success in the technology industry but also for his philanthropic work. He and his wife, Melinda Gates, established the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to improve healthcare and reduce poverty worldwide. Through the foundation, they have donated billions of dollars to various causes and have made a significant positive impact on the lives of many people (Gates, 2019).
In conclusion, success is not just about achieving wealth, power, or fame. It is an ongoing process of personal growth and self-improvement, and it is about making a positive impact on the world. Making a positive impact on the world is an important aspect of achieving success. It means using one’s skills, talents, and resources to help others and make a difference in the world. It is about being a responsible and ethical member of society and using one’s success to make a positive impact on others. It is about setting and achieving goals, taking action, and using one’s skills and resources to help others. Success is a journey, not a destination, and it is something that we can all strive for in our own unique ways.
References
Gates, B. (2019). Bill Gates: The Best Investment I’ve Ever Made. The Wall Street Journal, 16.
Grouden, M. E., & Jose, P. E. (2015). Do sources of meaning differentially predict search for meaning, presence of meaning, and wellbeing. International journal of wellbeing, 5(1).
PART 2: Questions
- What is the significance of your essay? Why should readers care about what you have written? (2-3 sentences) Sophia says: Think about why you decided to analyze this particular image, or why you picked the word you chose to define. Your interest in in your subject matter should be clear to readers.
I feel this essay will be of interest to readers since it provides a new, more comprehensive definition of success. This definition of success emphasizes personal growth and having a beneficial effect on the world, rather than merely money gain or the achievement of a predetermined objective. It invites readers to look beyond conventional cultural conceptions of success and to pursue something more meaningful and satisfying. In addition, readers may relate to the provided instances and contemplate how they might apply the essay’s themes to their own life.
- Which areas of your draft do you think will benefit most from revision? (2-3 sentences) Sophia says: Consider the organization, style, focus, development, and conventions of your draft. Which areas did you struggle to complete?
The examples and explanations used to support my definition of success are the sections of my draft that I feel might benefit most from improvement. I am uncertain as to whether the provided examples are sufficiently clear and successfully show my idea. I also believe that the explanations may be refined and broadened to give more persuasive and specific evidence for my concept. In addition, I should examine the order of my copy and ensure that my thoughts are logically connected and flow together to form a coherent piece of writing.
- Consider the strengths and weaknesses of your writing. How can you capitalize on your strengths and improve on your weaknesses in future essays? (3-4 sentences) Sophia says: Think about what was easy about writing the draft, and what was more difficult. For example, if you write paragraphs with strong topic sentences, but repeatedly use the same type of sentence to provide supporting details, you can improve your paragraphs by varying sentence structure.
I find it rather simple to compose an essay. I consider my primary ideas and create a paragraph for each of them. I aim to make the introduction engaging and conclude by summarizing my main points. My weakness, I believe, is that I’d like to be done with my first draft, but I’m usually not.
The ability to revise and produce several drafts is what transforms an adequate piece of writing into a solid piece of academic writing. For future essays, I will keep this in mind and keep in mind that what I produce the first time does not have to be flawless, and that via revision and editing, I can polish my work and communicate what I want in the most efficient manner.