What does it take to be a success? I have spent a lot of time asking myself that question. I heard some good definitions before, but my favorite comes from Tom Hopkins. Here is my translation.

* Success is the worthwhile pursuit of a predetermined goal.

Short and sweet, but very to the point. Too many people think success is something we have to wait for. We only have to wait for success if we choose to wait for it. Becoming a success is as easy as making a choice you know youre going to stick too. I have a line I love to say that goes like this.

* Success is a Decision, Not a Destination.

This simply means that once you have made up your mind to reach a goal, you are already successful because you will achieve that goal. Also remember that goals are dreams with deadlines, so make sure you assign a time the goal has to be accomplished by. You cant just say someday Ill lose weight. Thats not a goal, thats an opinion, and a poor one at that. Instead, say something like this: Within 6 months Im going to lose 50 pounds. Now you have a target and a deadline. Team those up with persistence and you have a powerful, magical, wonderful combination.

You are instantly a success because you cant fail. Failure is never permanent, and success is always achievable. What great thing would you do if you knew that you couldnt fail? Would you write a novel, start a business? Or how about not smoking anymore. As a quick aside, Id like to talk about quitting smoking and relate to you a funny observation I heard by Dr. Wayne Dyer. He was talking about chocolate, but smoking will be just the same.

Is it easier to smoke or not smoke? Dr. Dyer says that not smoking requires less effort. If you want to smoke you have to work to earn the money to buy them, you have to drive to the store and pick them out, you have to pack the tobacco to ensure good flavor, you have to open the package, flip the lucky, take one out, put it between your lips, light it, smoke it, throw away the butt, and put away the pack. All just so you can do it again in a few minutes. Compare that to not smoking. All you have to do is not smoke. Thats it! So is it easier to smoke or not smoke? I guess it depends on how you look at it.

I hope to convey a central theme with this article. You are a success once you set a goal. A goal has a deadline and must be accomplished. Success is a decision, not a destination. By the time you reach your goal, youve already been living as a successful person. Thinking of yourself as a success now will make you finish your goal, because you will become what you think you are. Successful people meet their goals and do great things and with your new decision youre now a successful person.