by Dee Lamour

Created on: January 24, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2010

I suppose it depends on how you personally see success. Many people measure their success by societal guidelines, much like many woman measure their beauty by the pictures in a magazine,or a man may measure success by their career. A good career, family (spouse and 2 children), money, a nice car, a big house: these are standard means of measuring an individuals success. A question that comes to mind is, can an individuals success be gauged by anyone but that individual?

One Man's Success:

He looks out of his 15th story window across the city and reflects upon his life. He feels satisfied and at peace with the decisions he's made over the past couple of decades. The phone rings and his assistant informs him that his wife is on the phone. He takes the call and after a few minutes hangs up. A smile spans across his face and he thinks warmly of how well he has provided for her and their 2 grown children, 1 in college and 1 that finished schooling 2 years ago.

As he leaves the office and slides into his Caddy he is reminded, by the distinct smell of the leather interior, how long he waited for this car, and now he had acquired it. He pulls into the driveway and takes notice of his beautifully manicured lawn and the grand Cape Cod house that he calls home. As he enters the house his wife greets him with a peck on the cheek and as he is puts down his briefcase he catches a glimpse of himself in the hallway mirror, "I am successful" he smiles.

Another Man's Success:

He looks out of his 15th story window across the city and reflects upon his life. He feels satisfied and at peace with the decisions he's made over the past couple of decades. The buzzer goes and he leaves the lunch room and goes back to his desk and stares at the computer screen in front of him. He picks up the phone and begins making calls to prospective clients. Finally, after a long day he calls his wife to see if there is anything needed before he heads home.

He slides into his truck, Travis Tritt blaring from the radio, and with a smile he waves to a colleague as he drives off. He pulls into the driveway and as he takes notice of the green lawn in front of the little bungalow he purchased twenty years ago, he is filled with pride. Just five more years and he will be mortgage free, he giggles to himself. He enters the house and his wife greets him with a kiss. As he throws his jacket onto the back of the kitchen chair and takes a deep breathe in, to savour the smell of a pot roast cooking in the oven, he is reminded of how good it feels to be home. He feels warm and content, he passes by the hallway mirror, " I am successful" he smiles.

So, what makes an individual successful?

I believe that success can only be measured by the goals and desires an individual sets for themselves. When meeting each step to obtaining a goal you become more and more motivated, having fun and beating obstacles that pop up along the way. There is feelings of pride and a deep sense of accomplishment. To me this is success.

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