Because of the ever-changing nature of business and social interest in today’s world, people are stuck in the conflict of what “success” truly means and how it is achieved. Some believe that true success is in the journey and some believe it lies within reaching the goal.

Choosing a goal or destination often includes making the choice between economical freedom and the pursuit of happiness through “enjoying the ride.” As humans, we are always searching for a sense of completion: a sense of success. The question is, what exactly defines success and which path can lead us there?

The definition of success varies from person to person, and some people fail to grasp that concept. Many people believe that by emulating someone who has succeeded, they will be led to success. This is incorrect on the basis that the definition of success is indefinite. Would you follow your dreams or the path of least resistance to achieve economic freedom?

Success could be defined through attaining an end result. People will strive to achieve greatness and finally feel successful once their destination is reached. Their life is a continuous “work in progress,” available to new ideas and experiences on the rationale that their goal must be met. Reaching a goal such as economical success can be rewarding, but materialistic items that money could buy can only do so much. One may argue that money can buy security, assurance, and maybe freedom, but in my opinion success is happiness, and happiness must be created from within.

I strongly believe that because we are given one life, we must live it through as if any given day could be our last: “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” (Greg Anderson) To this I will attribute my meaning of success, which is: “a life marked by the ability to adapt and experience balanced sensations, self-fulfillment and the pursuit of obtaining happiness.” Feeding our souls by reaching out to others and achieving happiness through passion and dedication to the greater good are ways of filling our lives with meaning and truly creating a journey that is note-worthy. I believe that every day and situation are just one more set of building blocks to leading a successful life. We succeed when we are able to radiate positivity to those around us as well as seize every opportunity. The days when happiness isn’t part of the schedule, we must learn to embrace the sadness as a means of appreciating the happier times. This way, we will have a ceaseless wholeness in our hearts that could quench our thirst for completion at any given time.

We live and we learn; yet we all learn differently. Individuals define success through what will make them feel complete. If people do not take the time to learn about themselves and prioritize their values, success may never be attained. Succeeding is a thought process and a mental game; to win, one must learn to defeat the ultimate opponent-- the status quo and emulation.