As I have been “marinating” on the attributes of success, I have already come to realize how uncomfortable it is for me to ponder and discuss the subject. Somewhere along the way, I was taught that success is a four letter word. I have somehow been conditioned to believe that a desire to succeed is by nature selfish and empty, and should be avoided at all costs. “Don’t seek success, seek significance”, the inner voice whispers in my head. Too many times I have seen men and women fueled solely by the desire for fame, fortune, and status … all to find emptiness and heartache.

Clearly, however, while one can attain success in life and remain empty, one can just as easily find significance in life and remain broke. This leads me to believe there is a balance, that both success and significance are crucial to a whole, healthy, and dynamic life. In fact, as I explore the common attributes of the successful people around me, I have found that to truly achieve on a consistent basis, it is necessary to first find significance in something greater than one’s self.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines success: the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted … in other words, success is measurable through achievement. So while success is different for each person, I believe it can still be defined and modeled. This is the impetus for describing in more detail attributes I admire most in the successful people I know.

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