Before that conversation, I've never officially looked up success in the dictionary. To me, it was one of those words that could be defined on an individual basis. However, I've never really thought about the implications of this concept of words being defined on an individual basis. It could be chaos! Or at least lead to confusion and misunderstanding.
Of course we looked up success in the dictionary, and I can tell you, I didn't like what I read:
First off, I suppose I should say (and I would hope that at least a few people agree so that I don't feel so silly), that while I felt the definition of success varied from person to person, the connotation that the word exudes was always positive. More than positive, like an adjective that everyone (or close to it) works towards their whole lives to define themselves as. So when I read the definition of success with the feeling of what the word implies, it saddened me because it does not describe at all what I work towards in my everyday life. It also worried me that this was the definition for many people and would end up being what they felt most important.
Therefore, we have decided to begin a campaign to change the definition of success. We are still in the planning stages, but we will keep you informed here. Let us know what you think the definition of success should be and what the word means to you.
suc·cess [suhk-ses]
noun
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors
4. a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.
First off, I suppose I should say (and I would hope that at least a few people agree so that I don't feel so silly), that while I felt the definition of success varied from person to person, the connotation that the word exudes was always positive. More than positive, like an adjective that everyone (or close to it) works towards their whole lives to define themselves as. So when I read the definition of success with the feeling of what the word implies, it saddened me because it does not describe at all what I work towards in my everyday life. It also worried me that this was the definition for many people and would end up being what they felt most important.
Therefore, we have decided to begin a campaign to change the definition of success. We are still in the planning stages, but we will keep you informed here. Let us know what you think the definition of success should be and what the word means to you.
