19
Jul
What Is Success? Defining Success In A Nutshell
By: Ray Montie
What Is Success? Defining Success In A Nutshell
Success is often described as the attainment of a set of defined objectives. This can also be referred to as the opposite of failing. The standards for success can be relative to a specific individual’s perception or belief system and are affected by context. Different contexts and varying goals necessitate a variety of approaches. Sales targets for educational settings are very different from those for building an affiliate business. The same goes with those who want to be in the military.
The definition of success is key to your success. Success can only be achieved by you. People differ in their perceptions of success, as well as in their potential to achieve them. Some people are very goal-oriented, while others take time-to-time gradual process to achieve their goals. While some people are extremely ambitious from childhood, others remain consistent for many years.
It is crucial to clarify what success looks like for you before an interviewer asks questions about your goals. A common mistake is for candidates to define success based only on what they have achieved, without looking at their work ethic or other personality characteristics. In an interview, the questions are specifically designed to delve into the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, so that the right fit can be made. Interviewers cannot ask the candidate, “How do your vision of success look?” if the candidate has not articulated a vision of success.
Success can also be defined by a pre-defined plan. If a candidate has a predetermined plan for reaching a goal, he or she is more likely to stay focused and pursue that goal. However, a candidate with little direction or a vague idea of what they want to accomplish may become distracted and lose focus.
A specific outcome can define success. This is why it may be important for candidates to specify the outcome of every action that they perform. For example, a candidate might collect a set amount of data every week. The focus would then shift to documenting those results, rather than completing the goal. It is important to have a clearly defined definition before you ask about examples of successful results.
Success can also be defined by a series of actions or behaviors. Interviewers will be able to identify the characteristics that are indicative of success by referring back to specific examples. For example, if a candidate keeps a blog, the question, “How do you define your success?” can be answered with, “You keep your blog interesting.”
Success can also be defined by a series of activities, or jobs. Again, it is important to be specific when answering this question. It is better to state, rather than saying “You created a blog and then you wrote each post”, that “You edited each post.” In addition, a company could list all of their current employees’ best answers to questions about success. A company can also answer specific questions to help them identify the best candidates for their job.
There are many definitions of success. Candidates and employers need to be honest in order to reach success. There are many people with great ideas. Many others have successful businesses. The biggest key to success is a clearly defined and measurable goal – with measurable steps toward that goal.
A common goal is often shared by many successful individuals. When asked what they were most proud of as an individual, most will say they were their family, or teaching children, or their craft. Successful people have clear goals, and they take action toward achieving those goals. A successful marriage is also a definition of success. When a person feels proud of themselves for achieving a goal, they feel the excitement of success.
One person’s definition of success may be different from another. It is the job of an interviewer to determine what success means for each candidate. The definition of success is not always clear. An employer must determine what success means for the candidate, and the interviewer must ask the right questions to find out.
Interviewers must step out of their comfort zones to hire a qualified candidate. An interviewer cannot expect to interview a man who is a great dresser or knows how to use a computer. Both are part of success, but the dresser can learn how to use the computer, while the computer can learn how to dress! Achieving the goal of hiring someone becomes easier when the definition of success is clarified prior to the interview. A hiring manager who asks a series of straightforward questions during an interview, may be able to help a potential candidate define success before the interview begins.