What is success? I am not going to try to define success. I think a precise definition is impossible. Is it winning a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games or winning Wimbledon, or being awarded a Nobel prize? What else? I believe personal success could be anything at all - it does not have to involve public recognition. Who is more success- ful? A millionaire who is unhappy, or an unnoticed person, who has led a simple, sincere and happy life? The simplest definition of success, I think, is 'to set out to do something and to succeed in doing it'. It really doesn't matter what, or how humble the undertaking.

The first step on the road to success starts with BELIEF. BELIEVE you can succeed and you will. Achieving success in whatever endeavor you choose may be the goal of life, because it gives you freedom from worry. Could that be?

Success means different things to every one of us. Some people believe it is measured in financial terms, i.e. having wealth; others believe it is helping others rather than helping themselves. A bit of both perhaps?! Or it could be simply achieving for achievement's sake? Success is such a personal thing. To many people, it is the very root of their being -- the reason for existing is to achieve something worthwhile in our lives. To the vast majority of the popula- tion it doesn't matter much whether they want to be suc- cessful or not; that's OK by me, as long as that is what you really want and you are happy with life.

However, most people want and are motivated to a great extent by public recognition and a relentless pursuit of achievement. How many people too are really happy? How many people are really doing what they want to with their lives? (Incidentally, the ability to imagine, makes us different from animals).

No matter what motivates you personally...whatever you choose to do with your life, don't expect instant success. The years of struggle,
commitment and learning in excelling at whatever endea- vor or trade you choose, is no easy task. I would whole- heartedly agree with that statement after many many years of struggle as an aspiring author. It takes a lot of courage, character and discipline to achieve success in any field. Nearly all successful people have doubted themselves at some point and wanted to give up. Me included! Yet they carried on. So many people give up within an inch or two away from the gold in the seam

One thing is for sure: ADVESITY BREEDS CHARACTER and success breeds SUCCESS, as it gathers a momentum of its own and you get on a "winning streak", when everything seems to fit into place.No matter the field of endeavour, it's a matter of great PERSISTENCE that moves you towards ultimate success. So, "Keep on keeping on".

I like all of the following quotations. They all stand for what success means to me personally. So I'll share them with you...

"Success is the continuous journey towards the achieve- ment of predetermined worthwhile goals." - Tom Hopkins, American motivator

"To live your life in your own way To reach the goals you've set for yourself To be the person you want to be - That is success."
- author anon.

"There is one only one success: to be able to spend your life in your own way"
- Christopher Morley

Most of all, I believe success is a matter of PERSONAL GROWTH. If every day you are developing or growing just a millimeter (or acquiring a "teeny weeny" bit of knowl- edge for improving yourself that you didn't have before), I believe one is successful. So dwarfs can be very success- ful people too. Sorry about that "un PC" comment, dwarfs!

Just being a slightly better person each day for me is suc- cess. I've got a very long way to go then!

Finally , always remember... success is a PROCESS and is not simply a matter of arriving at a destination. Suc- cess is what you BECOME in the often very difficult and hazardous journey down the river (or in my case, nego- tiating the "raging rapids"*) of life.

*Note alliteration

"I am not just a human being... I am a human just becoming ." - My great friend and "wise" intellectual philosopher, Dr Andy Eastcott (thanks for fixing my teeth and for the most interesting , "mate")

The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper.

-- Aristotle

The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.

-- Charles Du Bos

Craig Lock has written extensively on the subject of suc- cess, sport psychology and personal growth. Craig's books are avail- able at: http://www.novelty-gift.com/