This is a question I have quite a bit as a business owner and professional consultant. People measure success in different ways. Some say it’s all about the bottom line dollar amount a person makes; others say it’s knowledge acquired. At www.dictionary.com, it says the following:
- the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
- the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.
- the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
As many of you who I work with know, I truly believe that “Small Success leads to Big Success.” I came up with this saying because of my experience as a student with Prosper, Inc. I started knowing basically nothing about websites, SEO, or internet marketing. But, as I chipped away at things, did my homework as best I could, and stayed committed to proving that the system worked, I started seeing things happen. Was it overnight, absolutely not: the best things usually never are but success did happen. And then it happened again. And again. And then even more.
So many doors have been opened because of my involvement with Prosper as a student and then later on as an eCommerce Mentor. I’ve formed multiple eCommerce businesses, signed a legal partnership with an already established business as their Marketing Director and Internet Marketer, and I really feel that’s just the beginning. The knowledge I gained from my mentor has helped me become a better coach. It opened my mind to all the possibilities that are out there for entrepreneurs. I know now more than ever before that success is there for everyone if they are willing to do what’s required.
Below are my top 20 Success Quotes (not in order of importance). Read them to yourself often and you will achieve true success:
- “Men are born to succeed, not fail.” Henry David Thoreau
- “Nothing happens until I make it happen.” contributed by: Scott Wilson
- “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” Abraham Lincoln
- “People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved.” Anne Sullivan
- “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” Mark Twain
- “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” John Wooden
- “Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments.” Henry Ward Beecher
- “It’s simply a matter of doing what you do best and not worrying about what the other fellow is going to do.” John R. Amos
- “There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.” Christopher Morley
- “What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?” Robert Schuller
- “Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” William Feather
- “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier
- “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” Ella Fitzgerald
- “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Albert Schweitzer
- “Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.” Lowell Thomas
- “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” Dale Carnegie
- “Success is never wondering what if.” Karrie Huffman
- “Success is getting what you want, and happiness is wanting what you get.” Dave Gardner
- “The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed.” Nelson Boswell
- “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” Henry David Thoreau
24 replies on “What is true Success?”
Those are great sayings–and they can all share the same central theme. Which is to just keep plugging along, don’t give up, and stay positive.
Patsy,
How is your success? I’ve talked to Doug a couple times but always seem to miss you. I’d love to hear from you soon, as I’ve seen that the sales are steady on your Ebay Store.
Keep me posted!
Nate Moller
eCommerce
[…] Moller at www.http://mollermarketing.com wrote an intersting article about measuring one’s success. With a number of quotes from […]
They are great quotes to live and work by. I’ve had and am currently having small successes. I can slowly see how each success gradually grows. I have also ran into small bumps in the road which can be discouraging at times but the obvious key was to never quit. No limits!
Nate,
Thanks for the encouragement, all you related to us and all the other quotes.
I am determined to move into my success. I will not quit for I know I have a product that can help the world. I know God gave it to me and I know if I follow Him and do my part, it will bring help to many. I will not quit for this is my life long dream and I know what I am doing now is all a part of helping others and you can’t go wrong helping others. Success is helping others and that is what I am here for in this earth.
Thanks again for all of your encouraging words. Much success to you for you are a success and you believe it, say it, are doing it and now you will see more and more success.
As i read each of those quotes, I felt myself becoming more confident and more self assured. Those are very positive and forceful sayings and when we have positive thoughts we will have positive outcomes. I have always felt we get out of life what we look for and put into life. I am looking for success in my business and know that God will guide me as long as I am putting forth the effort and commitment.
All the sayings are so true and they are a great reminder that when the going gets tough the tough get going. Thanks for your article. The article will be read from time to time.
Hey Nate,
Love the quotes! Success is a funny thing, and one thing that I’ve noticed is that it really does elude those that are just ‘looking for success.’ Success (however you define that for yourself) comes when you’re setting goals and working to achieve them. Then you get so wrapped up in what you’re doing that you might not even notice it until you sit back and look at what you’ve accomplished. That’s when it sets in that you’ve been successful.
How’s your success coming? Are you headed in the direction you were hoping for over a year ago?
I love this threaded comments plugin!
Nate,
Great inspiritational article and the comments also support the positive influence of this site. I tend to need verbal confirmation that I am doing well, but I have had very positive thoughts and feelings regarding the ecommerce path I am taking. The learning process for building my business provides such a positive feeling that I believe that, as long as I complete the assignments and work hard, I can not fail.
Thank you for getting me back on track with this article.
The desire to achieve something is the foundation to success.
I must say that the definition of Success is Directly Related to Goal Setting and staying focused on the goal. I realized that I will never achieve success with out some sort of desire to do something and staying on the path to achieve that desire. Getting out of bed in the morning, to some is great success. To others a no-brainer. Some just don’t realize their successes. “When you really want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” The Alchemist. All you really need is courage.
[…] every day – in our own businesses and in the businesses of many of our clients. But, as one of my favorite success statements says: “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” – Mark […]
[…] every day – in our own businesses and in the businesses of many of our clients. But, as one of my favorite success statements says: “The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” – Mark […]
Success is doing what you want when you want. The successful never relied upon sad well used cliches for inspiration but created something fresh everyday.
Problem for most is they are too busy chasing what is assumed to be easy money with “key words” SEO tricks and forget that content is the most important. Its of little use being top of SEO lists when the content you get to view is sub standard. Learn to create something fresh- then you’ll experience success.
So never mind the quotes. Most of them are contradictory and out of date.
Humour, empathy for your clients objectives and passion are what paying clients expect not quotes.
Get on with it. The Baldchemist
Dale Carnegie and Christopher Morley have just about got it right.
Take care and have some bloody fun with your passions. If they are not passions then give them up, ’cause people notice your lack of it.
Mr. Bald Chemist,
Interesting points. What I’ve seen from experience and from my own success, especially dealing with many clients who are just starting their entrepreneurial careers, is that quotes like these can open their minds to their own potential.
Mindset, motivation, commitment to succeed, persistence – these are intangible tools needed to succeed at anything. Just ask the most successful business men, athletes, or whoever. The quotes mentioned focus on these intangibles and help people understand what they need to do to get started.
Best of luck in your endeavors. Hope your focus is on the right things, not just building links or “SEO Tricks!”
I copied those sayings into word, Nat, hope you don’t mind. They are really excellent.
My favourite is this one:
“Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can.†Lowell Thomas
Success, to me, is acheiving what you set out to do.
Another one I like is:
“The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed.†Nelson Boswell
I need to read these over and over. They quickly fade from memory, as does the motivation, unless you really work at it.
Thanks,
Have you printed this article out and put it somewhere that you can review it every day? I haven’t heard from you in quite a while and fear the motivation has diminished some.
This article about Making Sales on Your Website may help too.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Gary and others,
I couldn’t agree more – repetition of these success statements can help a person’s mindset so much.
Keep up the great work and “Expect Success!”
I love #14 : Sucess in not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
And how true this is! You gotta love what you’re doing to be successful in anything!
I’m still getting this question – in fact, I talked to a client yesterday for over an hour about his “expectations of success online”.
Like another client said, “An online business is just like any other business, it takes work, time and persistence to succeed.”
Go figure! I have seen some amazing results and realize more and more every day that ANYONE can do ANYTHING they set their mind to but they have to BELIEVE THEY CAN SUCCEED!
Just some food for thought…
Thank-You…great words and ideas for all.
Really glad you like it Sandra. Let me know if you find others I can add to the mix of Success Quotes!