What’s The Definition of Success?

And what’s keeping you from it today?

As a coach, watching an athlete’s dedication to their craft payoff in the culmination of significant achievement is exciting. However, the relationship is more fortified and meaningful when you have a front-row seat to observe their transition from hope, to belief, to an expectation of greatness. Where most people only see the crowning moments, coaches get to see firsthand the frustrations, losses, and little wins in practices that mold those moments. 

Recently, our hurdles coach was blessed with this opportunity to watch an athlete he’s coached for four years finally achieve the goal of becoming a state qualifier. Throughout her career, she’s broken personal and school records and collected medals at virtually every meet she’s competed in, but he never let himself—nor her—get too high on those little wins along the way. He’s known she’s been capable of achieving the “big goal” of qualifying for state her whole career. 

Now that she’s finally eclipsed that goal, I don’t think he would call that achievement a success. The success of his hurdler came a long time ago when she committed her attention, time, and energy to heed his input, detail, and patience. For them, the formula for her success was simple but not easy: time, repetition, hard work, and desire. 

But that’s how they defined her success. Everyone defines success differently. It got me thinking about a song by hip-hop artist NF that I listen to every morning during my workouts. It’s called “Hope.” Check it out:

So what’s your definition of success? And what’s holding you back from success today?