Live Better with Willie Jolley: Success or Achievement?
Success or Achievement?
By Dr. Willie Jolley
On May 19, 2013, I received my Doctorate Degree with an emphasis in Achievement. One of the first points I wanted to bring to the attention of my readers is that there is a difference between success and achievement.
People often use the two words (success and achievement) as synonyms, but they are quite different. Webster’s dictionary defines SUCCESS as "the attainment of wealth, position, status…” We talk about success in terms of things we see that look good and are positive. We speak about someone having a successful life, a successful marriage, a successful business and so forth.
We see the outcome, but seldom dwell on the path taken and challenges faced to reach that outcome! And when we speak of success, it typically has an ending. The person just kind of ended up as a success.
In fact, we as a group of people have a hard time defining success. We say we know it when we see it, but have a difficult time describing it. And if you can’t describe it, how will you measure it?
Many years ago, while working with the Washington, DC Public School System, we were having a discussion over lunch and someone asked, “So, how do you define success?” Everyone had different answers- from having a lot of money, to having a big house or a fancy car. I knew it was more than just money and what money could buy. I believed it involved things that money could not buy, like a happy family, a great relationship, or a committed and purposeful life. But I was not able to articulate it at that time.
Some time later, I read the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Upon reading his definition of success, I said to myself, “That’s it! That’s a definition I can agree with!”
Napoleon Hill wrote, “Success is the ongoing, progressive realization of a worthy ideal.” He added, “success is the knowledge with which to get whatever you want from life, your chief aim or ideal, without violating the rights of others.” Therefore, once you get that chief aim and that clear ideal and make the decision and start on the path towards it… you are on your way to success!
Achievement though, is extremely different! Webster’s dictionary defines achievement as “something you get as a result of action, exertion, resolve, persistence or hard work.” When we think of someone who has achieved, we typically think not just about the outcome, but also the actions that they had to undertake to get to the outcome. Achievement takes action. And action takes effort and work!
Over the next few months, we will be sharing strategies on how to achieve more in every part of your life. I encourage you to visit my new non-profit website, www.jolleygoodnews.org to view some of the excerpts on my new series, How To Achieve More.
Dr. Willie Jolley
