Success: How do we measure it and what does it look like?

"I recently wrote a short post here on LinkedIn about how we define 'success', and it generated quite some interest. This is a more in depth look at that subject, especially about how it may be linked to happiness."

One of my original start points was to ask the question:

"Is success working hard and making money, or is it being happy?"

Interestingly, many people on LinkedIn show photos of themselves with a large glass of wine or a beer, especially on Fridays or at the weekend. This almost suggests that this is their end goal. Clearly, they see it as some sort of small celebration or reward i.e. for reaching the end of the working week, and hence it gives them the ability to relax at the weekend. Nothing wrong with that!

To me this prompted the thought or question "What does success look like?" And if it isn't a cold beer or glass of wine in your own garden, perhaps with your partner, friends, or family, what does success actually look like? Is it feet up, watching the telly? Or lying around in bed, all day?

Where we seemed to get to on that particular thread was that for quite a number of people, Success was more about having choices and the process of enjoying attaining success, often this was achieved whilst helping others.

Another definition was that:

Success was the freedom to do what you want, when you want, and with whomever you want.

Whilst it would be wrong to suggest that these are the only answers, they do seem to be more acceptable in this day and age than they were in more materialistic times. Back in the 1980s the answers might have looked something like the following:

• To achieve a promotion at work/ to be invited on to the board
• To have your own office, ideally a corner office
• To get a top-of-the-range German car as your company vehicle
• To be able to holiday abroad at least twice a year - two weeks in the sun, and maybe a week skiing
• To buy a bigger house (complete with cinema room, games room, home gym etc)
• To afford a 2nd home, perhaps a holiday home in France
• To be able to buy more "stuff" (big TV, latest gadgets, classic car, motorboat etc)
• To to give up working i.e. to retire early

Whilst some of the above may still be relevant today, this sort of materialism and making money is perhaps more frowned on in these particular times, and we perhaps look for more meaning in our lives.

So, excluding those who still measure success purely in things and possessions, success seems to be more about personal freedom, and is closely linked to happiness and contentment. Often this is also associated with doing something meaningful such as helping others.

So...

Does Success lead to Happiness? Or

Does Happiness lead to Success?

It seems a bit of a cop out, but I suspect the two almost go hand-in-hand. Success, however we might measure it, for a lot of us will result in a form of contentment and happiness. Whilst happiness may in the end be the best measure of our own success.

Of course, success also varies by life stage...

1. As a pre-teen it might be about having a some close school friends, or being popular
2. For teens it might be about academic achievement, or being good on the sports field
3. A young adult might see it as getting to university, collecting a degree, and embarking on a suitable career
4. As we get a little older it might be about finding a partner, and the enjoyment of shared experiences
5. Older still and it might be more about starting a family, making a home, and seeing those around us develop

But it's possible to see happiness and contentment arising from success no matter what life stage. Needless to say so much of this is very personal.

For me it's probably about doing things that are purposeful, feeling I am making a difference, achieving any goals I set myself either short or long-term, plus having a bit of fun on the way.

It was clearly quite difficult for some people to visualise success, but for me success (and happiness) may indeed be best encapsulated by nothing more than sitting in my garden on a sunny afternoon, dog at my feet, a something cold in my glass, and just letting it all sink in.

If that is a picture of my success, then I'm quite happy with it!

About the Author

Paul Latimer is an experienced market researcher, having held a number of marketing roles in a wide variety of industries he moved over to focus on market research from the agency side in 2004, before setting up his own market research consultancy, Latimer Appleby, in 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Birmingham, and holds several diplomas including those from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the Market Research Society (MRS) and the Institute of Data & Marketing. He is a Certified Member of the MRS, and a Fellow of the CIM.