Success is a abstract and limitless term which can not be easily measure. However, many people go crazy with the word success, because success is like the carrot at the end of the stick that keeps the donkey moving forward. What’s your definition of success? A big house? to be famous? or have a powerful job? However, not every one consider success in the same way. To a large majority of people , success is combination of financial prosperity, fame and power. According to Daniel Midson, there are six types' view of success which is puritan, materialistic, power, spiritual, contributor and escapist. I will be focus on the puritan,power and spiritual.
People who believe in puritan keep enhancing themselves to a new and higher level in the way to be successful. They always update their new goals and try the best to achieve each one in order to prove their value and to achieve a high level standard. However, their goals are all related to self, the meaning for them to achieve those goals is to prove themselves’ value but not power or money. During the process of achieving a goal, they are not only gain experience but also knowledges, self-esteem as well as world view. Puritan help them to be more efficient and rigorous. There some people who are completely believe in puritan,also there are some people perform a part as puritan. For example. For the people who has a "to do list" or "bucket list" can be considered as Puritan in this way, as they try to complete or achieve their goels on the list to prove themselves are good at certain things. Also, one of my friends in middle school who can considered as almost purely puritan. She never compare anything with others but herself. She setted goal for every single thing and tried to achieve each one. For instance, she set different goals for every subjects and tests. For example, for math test one she might set goal is to achieve 85marks, if she get it, she will set her goal for math text two slightly higher than the text one; if she does not achieve the goal this time, she would remain the goal until she get what she expected. She was using this way to move forward. As a result, She was the best student in my class. In fact, Her self value is increasing with the goals being completed each time. Moreover, Puritan will always follow their mindset and keep living up themselves to a higher level. For puritan, improving self-value is the core value for them. The doctrine of success lead them to success.
Power is another term of success. For people who pursuit power as the only symbolization to success, they believe everything in the world is controlled by people who have a certain power. Adolf Hitler is one of the example. He has had great power to casue world war two during 1940s. He has had great power lead Germany to be the most powerful nation during 1940s. In his life, the only thing he has pursuitted was power which strengthen him and widen his ambition, on the way to explore his empire and occupy others’. In some senses, he was a successful leader with great power in the world even he did not used his power in a right way. However, power does lead people who have it to a different life-----for people who pursuit power are called successful life.
Spirtual is another term of success which people choose to reverse the material or power view of the world and go for a more pious view of life. They refuse temptations and desires of material, instead choosing to be connected to rewards in the spiritual realm. For example Mother Teresa is one of spiritual leader. According to Wikipedia, “she was a catholic who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries” Moreover, In the 1970s, she became well-known internationally for her humanitarian work and advocacy for the rights of the poor and helpless. All she did is not because of fame, wealth or power. She never thought about personal desires, all she wantted to do is to help needed people without any reward. Even she is not the most powerful or the richest people in the world, but she is one of the most successful people around all over the world, because she had spiritual wealth.
In practial, people hold various of believes about success. We can not determine which typs of success is more effective, because the definition of success is very depend on individuals. But, success can be simply understand as what can make you happier and what can make you better through your life.
