Are You Successful and What Does It Really Mean?

What does it mean to be successful? This is a tricky question because people have very different ideas about it. Some think success is about being happy, but others say it's about reaching goals. Are they connected? Is success a result or a state of being? And is happiness a lasting feeling or just a moment? I've noticed some discussions recently and decided to share my opinions and thoughts on this. I think my thoughts are quite simple, and I believe most people think the same way. They may sound straightforward, but people sometimes need to hear them as a reminder.

Different Views on Success and Happiness

Some people say success is when you achieve what you wanted, and happiness is the feeling that comes afterward. They believe you've truly succeeded when you don't want anything else because you've reached all your goals or purchased what you desired. But I don't agree with this. To me, this sounds more like giving up. If you have no new goals, life might feel stuck and boring.

I think happiness comes from the journey—from making plans and seeing them come to life, whether in business or personal life. Success isn't a one-time thing; it's about achieving small or big wins along the way. Often, this kind of happiness isn't visible to others, and that's okay. What matters is how you feel inside, not what others see.

The Problem with Showing Off Success

Many people think you're only successful if others can see it. They chase big houses, fancy cars, or Instagram likes. But this focus on external validation can leave you feeling empty. There are many unhappy and highly stressed people who live in large, expensive houses and drive luxurious cars or yachts. And by the way, stress is not always a bad thing. Stress caused by negative feelings, such as guilt or bad experiences, may seem harmful, but if it motivates you to take action or face a challenge, it can actually be positive.

Success and Happiness Are About the Journey

For me, happiness comes from working toward goals and enjoying the process. It’s not just about reaching the finish line—I’ve never understood the concept of a "finish line." To me, it’s always about hitting the next milestone. In my view, an entrepreneur is someone who thrives on solving problems, building their business, and creating new things. They find happiness in daily challenges and victories, not just in the final outcome.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about "flow," which is when you're so focused on what you're doing that time seems to disappear. This happens when you're working on something meaningful, like creating a new product, writing, painting, or even parenting. Success, in this sense, is about being fully involved in the journey, not just the destination, which is not less important as well.

The Work-Life Balance Debate

Many discuss work-life balance as if work and personal life are separate. But for passionate people, especially entrepreneurs, work and life often blend together. If you love what you do, your work becomes part of your life, and that's okay.

Of course, family and personal life are crucial, but they don't have to be completely separate from work.

Money Isn't Everything: Research—and not just personal practice and observation of those around you—shows that once people have enough money to cover their basic needs, additional wealth doesn’t significantly increase happiness. This demonstrates that material success doesn’t always lead to happiness. However, if it does for some, that’s okay—people are different.

Small Steps Matter: The Japanese concept of "kaizen" focuses on making small, continuous improvements. This approach shows that happiness can come from steady progress, not from trying to be perfect.

What Success and Happiness Really Mean

In the end, success and happiness are personal and not easy to define. They are also always changing as life goes on. Success and happiness aren’t about what society expects or what others think. For some people, success might mean earning a lot of money, while for others, it’s about building good relationships or helping others. Overall, they are more complex than what can be explained in a few words.

Happiness comes from living a life that aligns with your values. It's about setting meaningful goals, enjoying the process, and appreciating both the wins and the lessons. True success and happiness aren't about what the world sees—they're about what you feel inside.