What Does Success Really Mean?

Imagine sitting around a lunch table with colleagues, casually discussing what it means to be successful. Someone points to a coworker and says, “He’s really made it.” Another chimes in, “Yes, but his personal life is falling apart.” This sparks a lively debate. Is success about earning a high income? Climbing to the top of the corporate ladder? Maintaining work-life balance? Or simply doing what you love—regardless of how others view it?

Success Is Personal and Evolving

Success is a deeply personal concept. It means different things to different people, and even that meaning can evolve over time. Life experiences shift our values and redefine what we consider important. According to the Collins Dictionary, success is “the achievement of something that you have been trying to do.” This definition points to a central truth: success begins with a goal.

Start With Clear, Attainable Goals

To determine whether you’ve succeeded, you need to know what you were trying to achieve in the first place. That’s why setting clear and attainable goals is essential. These goals—whether personal, professional, or a blend of both—serve as your roadmap. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) so you can objectively assess your progress and results.

How Businesses Measure Success

This principle applies to companies as well. To judge whether a business is successful, we must ask: Did it achieve what it set out to do? That means clearly defining the company’s vision and mission, then translating those into a measurable Level of Ambition—a few concrete, quantifiable targets the company commits to reaching.

These measurable indicators act as the company’s success metrics. If those targets are met, the business has succeeded. Without such clarity, success becomes vague and difficult to assess.

The Struggle to Define Metrics

While most companies can agree on broad visions and values, agreeing on specific metrics is often more challenging. This is because vague statements can mask disagreement. Metrics, on the other hand, force alignment and accountability.

That’s why creating measurable success indicators demands effort. It requires leaders to engage in real discussions, reconcile different viewpoints, and commit to shared goals. Though difficult, this process builds clarity and trust—and makes it easier to identify real progress.

Embracing the Journey

Defining and measuring success—both personally and professionally—is not a one-time task. It’s a journey of reflection, strategy, and alignment. It involves courage: to set clear goals, to face the metrics honestly, and to keep refining your path. In doing so, success becomes more than a result. It becomes a way of navigating through life and business with intention and clarity.

[1] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/success