Handbook inc.’s Success Super Book : a definitive Consolidation of 25 Perspectives to Guide your Future Success

How Do You Define 
Success?
BY LAURA GARNETT@GARNETTL

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“TO FIND AND 
FULLY LIVE 
YOUR PURPOSE 
IN LIFE, AND 
TO LEAVE AN 
ENDURING 
LEGACY OF 
HAVING MADE A 
DIFFERENCE IN 
THE WORLD.”
As we bid farewell to another year, I’ve been pondering these 
questions too. So I approached a number of “successful” people. 
Most of them are CEOs or run organizations that they started. (I 
even included my parents!) By most people’s standards, they are 
successful. What, then, are their definitions of success? I hope these 
responses inspire you to think about your own version of success. 
The one constant I found? We all long for daily joy and fulfillment 
in our work and beyond.
“To find and fully live your purpose in life, and to leave an 
enduring legacy of having made a difference in the world.”
-- Ron Cordes, founder of the Cordes Foundation
“Success is not having to describe what’s been accomplished....
others do it for you”
-- Deborah Hopkins, Chief Innovation Officer of Citibank
“I define success as living my true purpose and having a positive 
impact on the lives of people by uplifting them and inspiring them 
to think and act in ways that they may not have considered before.”
-- Raj Sisodia, co-founder of Conscious Capitalism and professor at 
Babson College

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I DEFINE 
SUCCESS AS 
HAVING A JOB 
THAT YOU 
ENJOY AND 
ENABLES YOU 
FINANCIALLY
“The purpose of our lives is to contribute our unique, God-given 
gifts to have an extraordinary positive impact on the lives of others 
and the world.”
-- David Kidder, CEO of Bionic
“Success, for me, has always been in providing a great quality of life 
for my family, for those who work for me, and to my community.”
-- Jeremy Young CEO of Tanga
“My definition of success is knowing that what you are doing is 
helping you and others lead a better, happier, healthier life.”
-- Kara Goldin, CEO of Hint Water
“To me, success means creating a business that empowers 
customers, employees, and community in equal measure. We 
want to add positive value to people’s lives, from a personal and 
professional standpoint.”
-- Dan Kurzius, co-founder and COO of Mailchimp
“Success is looking back at your life, when you are in your final 
moments, and possessing a great amount of pride around your 
creations, accomplishments, and legacy, while possessing little to 
no regret about what you did not do and missed opportunities (i.e. 
your family still loves you). If I can die feeling this way, I believe 
this is success.”
-- Seth Besmertnik, CEO of Conductor

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“I FEEL THAT 
MY LIFE IS 
SUCCESSFUL 
IF I CAN LIVE 
EACH DAY WITH 
A POSITIVE 
OUTLOOK
“I feel that my life is successful if I can live each day with a positive 
outlook, have a feeling of contentment with my circumstances, 
have balance in all the important areas of my life, and have the 
time and resources to pursue what I am passionate about.”
-- Marcia Becker, PhD, senior director of Adult Rehabilitative and 
Rural Services (my mom)
“I define success as having a job that you enjoy and enables you 
financially, a spouse and family that loves and cares for you, 
children that make you proud by who they are and what they do, 
having the freedom to worship a loving God, and being able to 
contribute to the betterment of your fellow man. I am so blessed!”
-- E.N Garnett Jr., Certified Crop Advisor, Southern States (my dad)

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Discipline is probably the one trait most associated with 
achievement. It’s because accomplishing great things involves 
consistently doing the right things over and over again, even when 
it’s hard. Take exercise, for example. It’s a habit that many highly 
successful people credit for helping them feel energized, creative, 
and focused. The difference between mediocre people and those 
who truly do great things? The latter will run the miles and lift the 
heavy weights, even when they don’t feel like it. Here are the daily 
habits 17 successful executives credit for helping them get ahead.