Success

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Success

In running (just like in life), success means different things to different people. To some, running success means setting a world record, to some it means completing a 5k and to some it means staying active and healthy.

Distancer runner Kara Goucher has said, “That’s the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life it.”

Kara describes running success as the perspective it provides. Similar to Kara, others define success in unique ways that could be different from what we might think. Here are 5 people’s definition of success:

• “Success goes beyond the two metrics of money and power, and consists of four pillars: well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving.” - Arianna Huffington

• “Success is peace of mind in knowing you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.” - John Wooden

• “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill

• “To me, the definition of success is waking up in the morning with a smile on your face, knowing it’s going to be a great day.” - Mark Cuban

• “I measure success by how many people love me.” - Warren Buffett

Regardless of how you define success, here are 3 ways to use it to stay motivated:

Focus on internal success: We all view the world through different lenses and experience unique feelings. What others consider to be successful or unsuccessful may or may not be the same for you. Instead of living by how others define success, determine what makes you feel successful and focus on achieving success internally.

Success is not always black and white: Sometimes a result that seems unsuccessful is really a stepping stone on the path to success. Instead of being discouraged, consider the lessons learned and continue making positive progress everyday. The success journey is always changing.

We can all be successful: There are many ways to be successful, so our success does not always need to prevent the success of others. Sometimes there are zero sum games where we can only win if another person loses, but often that is not the case. In running and in life, we can often all grow together by creating more opportunities so that we share in the success.

Thanks for reading. Let’s have a great week!