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Definition Essay: What Makes A Person Successful?

563 Words3 Pages

It seems as though a yearning for success is apparent in every person. In fact, I have never met a person who has not wanted to be successful. However, many people believe that they are far from success, and it seems to me that the cause of this epidemic may take root in the fact that the definition of the word can be distorted to mean different things. I firmly believe, however, that it can be defined simply and elegantly in one definition. Success is the result of what makes someone feel fulfilled, not what others think should make them content. When most people define success, they think of fame, wealth, and beauty. This meaning of the word has been bashed into the heads of Americans daily for years, with the emergence …show more content…

People like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have been deemed “successful” because they had fame and wealth, yet they were successful for a different reason: they loved what they did. In fact, this attribute is seemingly the common denominator of successful people, considering that there are an endless number of quotes from respected and “successful” figures regarding this sort of passion. This innumerable list of quotes spans from figures all throughout history, ranging from people such as Henry David Thoreau, who implored: “Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still,” and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who detailed: “The ultimate dream in life is to be able to do what you love and learn something from it.” These quotes embody the “American dream,” the idea that every person has the ability to be successful by doing what they love. For example, I have always attempted to do the best I could academically, and I am very content with my performance thus far. Therefore, I believe I am successful. In conclusion, the modern (and inaccurate) definition of success, and the unattainability that comes with it has only given an entire generation the false notion that they have failed in all aspects of life. However, once someone realizes that success is the result of what makes them feel fulfilled, and not what others think should satisfy them, they might just realize that they

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