Comparing Success in Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick and the Life of Colin Powell

When we hear the word “success”, we often think of wealth and money. To some people, the embodiment of being success is earning a lot of money. In fact, the concept of success is primarily based on how much money a person earns. However, each person views the definition of success differently. One way to define success is something that has more to do with flash than it does with substance. John Wooden, an American basketball player and coach view success as “a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming” (JLP). John Wooden believes that true measure of success comes simply when someone do the best they can do, no matter what the outcome is. This shows that some people view success in a way that does not deal with wealth and money. Success is considered as one of the American Dream which each individual have at least dream of achieving it at some point in their life. Although this simple word can be defined in various ways, to achieve success require rigorous hard work, sacrifices, strong motivation and a wild interpretation of success.

For many people, success is simply getting paid the most. For others, it is as simple as achieving a goal they have set for themselves. To me, success is a combination of both achieving goals and living a fulfilling life. Financial success allows for careless actions. Social success brings about happiness.

Success has a unique meaning to everyone. To me, success means doing what I love, being happy, and to make good money.

There are many different understandings of what success is. Some relate success to money, others relate success to happiness, but it all depends on the type of person.

The definition of success differs from person to person. According to the “Poolside” Cadillac commercial, success is having a large house, nice family and a new car. How is that success accomplished? According to the mainstream media, success is achieved through hard work and perseverance. Not by taking extravagant vacations, or working for only a few hours a day. Success for others on the other hand could be having a large amount of free time. The media gives examples of what they think success is, but ultimately it’s up to the person to decide what is success is.

The meaning of "success" has numerous interpretations, whether it is your own or society's definition. Within Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell explains that being successful has nothing to do with what kind of person you are, so whether you are intelligent and hardworking or lazy and aloof, it depends on your circumstances growing up. Whether your parents happen to be immigrants, you are one of the smartest men in the country or you make a habit of practicing an activity for a certain amount of hours a day, your own personal success, according to Gladwell is defined by the conditions you grew up in; the idea of being successful varies from culture to culture, therefore, there is no definite meaning of success other than one's interpretation.

What is the real definition of success, in fact is there even a definition? Well, in the book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell it is the story of success. Some successful people are born with talent, and skills. As others may have to put in hard work to get to where they are. Every successful person is different, which means there is no definition for being successful. Being successful is made of many different categories. Many successful people are born with talents, put in hard work, and are different from everyone else.

What is success? Is success something that you can eat? Is it a physical object you can touch or a psychological feeling in the mind? Success is characterized differently by various people. For some people it means wealth. Others it means happiness. To me, success means making sure my family is living a healthy happy life. It means making valuable life decisions and having a feeling of belonging. Success is not only about helping yourself reach full potential. It is about bringing others along and giving them the opportunity to excel together in life.

“Success” is a term that is a part of our daily life. It can be defined in a variety of ways, such as achievements, awards, and college degrees. Some will even deem success as having a family, having a well-paying job, or even feel that living an uncomplicated life of contentment. But in the world that we live in today, there is not a set definition of success to go by. Only you as a person can give the meaning of success.

Success can be defined in many ways; for examples some might think success is surviving, while others view it as having millions of dollars in a bank account. Success is also something that changes over time and is different for each person. In history books success is America gaining independence, winning a war, or earning a right to vote. As a society, success is at a bare minimum, and needs to improve. As individuals, the journey for success is always ongoing and ever changing as an individual’s view of success changes.

To begin, many people define success as making a lot of money or having a really big house, but in reality it’s so much more than that. The world today commonly associates success with money, talent, and fame. Those who do not work hard or are just merely given such items like cars, clothes, jobs, fame, or houses are actually not very successful at all. For example, people like the Kardashian girls are viewed as gods by society today and have more money then anyone can think of. In reality, the Kardashians were just handed basically everything they now have today and are not successful in the sense of the word. They are not hardworking people who have endured failures and struggles during their lives due to being financially secure from their parents.

Webster defines success as “achieving wealth, respect, or fame.” However, my definition of success revolves around much more. Personal success, in my opinion, is achieved by the amount of happiness experienced by others around you. Being the good in an otherwise bad day, bringing a smile to a depressed face, or encouraging someone around you to try something new are all ways I feel triumphant.

Is Success all about wealth and popularity? Or does it have a deeper meaning than what we perceive. Success: an accomplishment of an aim or purpose. We all seem to want success. We all tend to seek it. “Success” seems to be the magic word for what we chase after, prepare for, choose, and desire. It’s how we often define our lives. Money, fame, and power are often what we have been told make up success.

As it is commonly used, the word "success" is sometimes synonymous with another word — "winning." Success is beating the other guy and getting the big salary. Success is what happens when other people think you're a success or when you can convince them of it.

As an eighteen year old, the term of success has been used in many different contexts. Although, we tend to define success as a person who has made millions or someone who has broken down barriers for the next generation, however, have we been leaving out the most important part of success? Does being successful guarantee your happiness? Does it replace those lonely nights? Does success replace those sleepless nights? Does it replace the friends you have lost along your path? In my opinion, it does not. Success cannot be determined merely based off of comparisons with another person. In fact, I am a firm believer in do what makes you happy because everyone else is temporary in our lives. My definition of success is based on self happiness because if you cannot be happy with yourself how can you bless others?