How to Build Success: What You Need to Define Success

You can build a life of success if you are willing to do what you need to do to get to your success. But what does that mean for you right now?

Determining How to Build Success

Too many times we know we want to be successful, but we are so busy looking at others’ success that we aren’t sure what it means for our lives.

You may want your song to be #1 on all the lists, but are you prepared to put into that want the requirements necessary to get there?

You may want your book to be a best-seller, but have you stopped to think about what that means?

You may want your blog to be the best, but as compared to what or who?

Until you fill in all the blanks, you will want something without really knowing what you want.

The Struggle of Doing Without Knowing

The other day my husband asked that dreaded question, “What do you want for dinner?” We’ve played this game for so long now, that I’ve learned some ways to narrow down the choices.

Me: Would you like tacos or pizza?

Him: Neither.

Me: Chicken?

Him: Had that for lunch.

Me: How about we order from a family restaurant and then we can all get something different if we want.

Him: Perfect.

He knew he wanted dinner. He also knew what he didn’t want. But that still left so many options out there. It’s the same with success, especially your success. You can want success, but if you don’t define what you want and what you don’t want specifically then you will be left driving around town a dozen times before someone cracks and yells, “let’s just have sandwiches at home.”

(It’s me. I’m the one that always cracks).

Most of us want to be a success. I have only met a few people that truly wanted to settle for mediocre or just enough – they had no desire to succeed. Not many people are naturally inclined to settle in failure (and anything less than your personal best could qualify). Most people want success, whatever that means to you.

Defining Success to Build Success

I have one definition and that definition is different today than it was five years ago, ten years ago, and definitely 20 years ago. Things change. I change. My circumstances have radically changed. What I wanted, needed, or even expected has shifted.

But today, success means owing no man but to love him, having a settled place for my family, and being positioned to share encouragement for those on a journey to define and live their unique design.

Have you taken the time to define what success would look like to you or be like for you?

Have you thought about what it would take to make you declare, “I have reached the place or position I have desired”?

Have you determined what you can do, will do, or will give up to have that success become your reality?

Until you define success, you leave it up to the world. Until you take the time to say, “this is my finish line,” you give the world permission to define for you what success you can or can’t have. Until you know in your knower, have a settled belief, that your success is the place you will go, you will struggle to make it happen.

Define your success today to begin taking on the little bits of momentum that will get you to that destination.

The road to that mountain peak or top rung will not always be easy. There will be days when it would be easier to walk away than to keep going. The right motivation can be the difference between “keeping on keeping on” or giving up. Superficial reasons might get you some of the distance, but it takes a deep-rooted desire to drive you on through the tough times.

What will you commit to make this a reality in your life?

Here is where the rubber meets the road. You can do it. I am five feet tall, but I could be a professional basketball player if I had the desire to make it happen. It would require a HUGE commitment. It would require a lot of sacrifices. It would require investments of my resources and finances. But it is possible (not likely, but still possible).

Every mountain peak is reached when someone takes the initiative to get there – but they have to GET there. You have to know what you can (and what you WILL) commit to the journey if you are serious about seeing your desired success.

If you know you want to be a success and you know what that means in your heart and you are rooted in the reasons behind the desire and you are willing to commit what is necessary to reach it THEN there is nothing that will keep you from the success that you desire.

Are you ready to build success for your life?

It starts with WHY!