My belief on this topic is that success, as defined by realization of self- or externally- defined goals, is impossible without both struggle and accomplishment.
To call struggle without accomplishment not successful flies in the face of ostensible American cultural values regarding respect for others and most importantly respect for hard word, but let's face it - hard work without success is nothing more than mechanics. As Ellen Griswold's father observed in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, a washing machine works hard. Ed Wood worked hard. A baseball mascot works hard (try one of those suits on some time). This is not success, merely effort.
On the other hand, to call simple accomplishment (achieving a goal without consideration of the effort involved in reaching it), successful is to ennoble every silver-spooned third generation hotel heiress, lottery winner or large donor's son. Merely collecting presents in the game of life is not success.
Therefore, both hard work and recovering from adversity (struggle) and accomplishment (realizing tangible rewards) are necessary for any true definition of 'success'.
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Comments
What portion of the essays you'll write in your life do you plan to begin with the phrase "My belief on this topic is"?
Posted by: Carl Lumma | October 3, 2006 01:35 AM