Jacques Tüverlin
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Learn the meaning of success as a noun in English, with synonyms, antonyms, and related words. See how to use success in different contexts, such as business, education, and entertainment, with examples from the Cambridge Dictionary corpus.
Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the word success from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Find out how to use success in a sentence and explore related phrases and entries.
- Overview
- Build a Growth Mindset
- Improve Your Emotional Intelligence
- Develop Mental Toughness
- Strengthen Your Willpower
- Focus on Intrinsic Motivations
- Set Achievable Goals
- Nurture Traits Linked to High Potential
- Cultivate Strong Social Support
- Avoid Burnout
Research by psychologist Carol Dweck suggests that there are two basic mindsets that influence how people think about themselves and their abilities: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.
People who possess a fixed mindset believe that things such as intelligence are static and unchangeable. Those with a fixed mindset believe that success isn't a result of hard work—it's simply a consequence of innate talents.
Because they believe that such talents are something people are either born with or without, they tend to give up more easily in the face of a challenge. They quit when things do not come easily because they believe that they lack the inborn skill needed to excel.
Those who have a growth mindset, on the other hand, feel that they can change, grow, and learn through effort. People who believe that they are capable of growth are more likely to achieve success. When things get tough, they look for ways to improve their skills and keep working toward success.
People with a growth mindset believe that they have control of their life, while those with a fixed mindset believe that things are out of their control.
What can you do to build a growth mindset?
Overall intelligence has long been believed to be one factor contributing to success in different areas of life, but some experts suggest that emotional intelligence may actually matter even more. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand, utilize, and reason with emotions. Emotionally intelligent people are able to understand not only their own emotions, but those of others as well.
To improve your emotional intelligence:
•Pay attention to your own emotions. Focus on identifying what you are feeling and what is causing those feelings.
•Manage your emotions. Step back and try to view things with an impartial eye. Avoid bottling up or repressing your feelings, but look for healthy and appropriate ways of dealing with what you are feeling.
•Listen to others. This not only involves hearing what they are saying, but also paying attention to nonverbal signals and body language.
How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?
Mental toughness refers to the resilience to carry on and continue trying even in the face of obstacles. People who possess this mental strength see challenges as opportunities. They also feel that they have control over their own destiny, are confident in their abilities to succeed, and are committed to finishing what they start.
What can you do to improve your mental toughness and increase your chances of being successful in life?
•Believe in yourself. Cut out negative self-talk and look for ways to stay positive and self-encouraging.
•Keep trying. Even when things seem impossible or setbacks keep holding you back, focus on ways that you can develop your skills and keep soldiering forward. One of the key habits of successful people is always looking at setbacks or failures as learning opportunities.
•Care for yourself. Staying strong also means that you treat yourself with kindness. Check in with yourself regularly to ensure you have the things you need to thrive.
•Look for growth opportunities. Learning more about yourself and challenging yourself to try new things can provide opportunities for self-discovery.
What is it that motivates you the most? Do you find that the promise of external rewards keeps you reaching for your goals, or is it the more personal, intrinsic motivators that keep you feeling inspired? While extrinsic rewards such as money, awards, and praise can be helpful, many people find that they are most motivated when they are doing things for personal satisfaction.
If you are doing things because you enjoy them, because you find them meaningful, or because you enjoy seeing the effects of your work, then you are driven by intrinsic motivations. Research has shown that while incentives can be a better predictor of some types of performance, intrinsic motivators tend to be better at predicting performance quality.
While it is often the external motivators that get people started, it is the internal motivators that kick in and keep people going in order to maintain those new behaviors.
What can you do to boost your sense of intrinsic motivation?
•Challenge yourself. Pursuing a goal that is achievable but not necessarily easy, is a great way to increase motivation to succeed. Challenges can keep you interested in a task, improve your self-esteem, and offer feedback on areas you can improve on. Choosing a slightly challenging task will help motivate you to get started—it feels exciting!
•Stay curious. Look for things that grab your attention and that you want to learn more about.
Psychologists have long attempted to link specific traits or personality characteristics to success in life and work. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one widely used assessment that is often utilized by businesses to screen job candidates. However, research often fails to show that the MBTI actually correlates to performance.
According to some more recent research, there are certain traits that tend to be consistently tied to success. Researchers Ian MacRae and Adrian Furnham have identified six key traits that can play a role in how well people do at work. However, they note that there are optimal levels of these traits. Too little of these characteristics can hinder success, but so can having too much.
Doing things alone can be difficult, but having a strong social support system can make things easier. Different types of social support can be important for success.
•Emotional support can provide the comfort, security, and empathy you need as you face challenges.
•Esteem support can boost your confidence and encourage you to keep going.
•Informational support can provide mentorship, advice, and other necessary resources to reach your goals.
•Tangible support can help you in active and practical ways. This might involve someone helping you perform a task or taking care of the task for you.
Mentors, friends, co-workers, and family members can cheer you on when things get tough and even offer advice and assistance that can help you improve your chances for success.
Burnout can happen when you are exposed to chronic stress. It can seriously impede success and lead to exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced performance.
Reduced motivation makes it harder to stick to your goals and can make you feel apathetic and uninterested.
Self-care strategies, such as getting enough sleep and engaging in healthy eating, can relieve some stress. But addressing burnout often requires getting to the bottom of the issue that is causing the problem.
Sometimes, this might mean reassessing your goals. If your goals are creating too much stress or if you are trying to achieve too much too fast, it can be a recipe for burnout. Look for ways to reduce stress, whether that involves shifting your goals, changing your plans, or even doing something more significant like moving somewhere else or changing jobs.
Jan 30, 2022 · Success for me is learning, not necessarily achieving, but making an attempt and learning. Success is continuing the journey. It will only be achieved when we die.
- Bill Kavanagh
noun. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like. Synonyms: triumph, accomplishment, achievement.
Find 79 words that mean success or its opposite, such as hit, achievement, failure, or disaster. Learn the definitions and examples of success and related terms in the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus.
Learn the meaning of success as an achievement, a result, or a person or thing that is successful. Find synonyms, pronunciation, collocations, and usage examples of success in British and American English.
