Argument Essay: The Definition Of Success

Improved Essays
The American dream is to be able to live in a large house, drive elegant cars and have financial freedom. This is the vision that the consensus seems to have on success. The majority of one’s life is spent working on becoming successful. As soon as children are old enough, they start to get bombarded with the idea that success equals having lots of money. The media is chiefly responsible for conditioning everyone toward this notion. Success is within the mind of the individual. Everyone has their own interpretations for what success means to them. For many, success is measured by their social status and assets; for others it is determined by the amount of happiness that has been attained in their life.
Money seems to be the main objective for some people. It is a necessity for anyone who is trying to succeed. Many believe that the only way to be successful is to make a
…show more content…
It’s about climbing a ladder that has no limit. We all have reached a stepping-stone in our lives that is rough and arduous and success is determined how well you manage to handle the situation. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says, “out of every crisis, comes opportunity”. Someone who is able to overcome their hardships often feel like he or she has accomplished something. The concept of success is highly subjective; therefore success means something different for everyone. The Oxford English Dictionary defines success as “the prosperous achievement of something attempted; the attainment of an object according to one’s desire (432). Often at times, success doesn’t always come easily. It’s something you have to work hard for and that also includes adding the failures in the process of our achievements. Our failures are crucial to the accomplishment of becoming successful and attaining what one desires. When we’re able to learn from them, there are valuable lessons to realize and that of itself is leading you a step closer to

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Many people have the idea of the American dream being a straight shot to success, but William Zinsser explains how that just simply isn’t true. In order for someone to embody the real meaning of the American dream, they have to experience success as well as failures, for it is those failures that teach us the most about how to achieve success. In the media, we see far too many examples of products that will make the rise to greatness a walk in the park, giving people the wrong idea of what it takes to accomplish the American dream. In William Zinsser’s “ The Right to Fail”, he points out that from day one, teenagers are being pushed towards the ideologies of being successful by graduating from college. He calls out our “goal-oriented…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The “American Dream” is a lifestyle ideal that attracts people from all over the world. This ideal is that in America, everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve success, homeownership, and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. However, even with hard work, determination, and initiative, obstacles can arise that can impede one’s achieving of this success. Gender, socioeconomic class, education, and traditional culture can influence peoples’ pursuit of the “American Dream”. Gender plays an important role in the pursuit of the “American Dream”, but more importantly, gender bias plays a key role in woman’s pursuit of the “American Dream”.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Great Gatsby: A Tale of Sacrifice Wealth and success are the basis of the American Dream, and are sometimes not achieved by those Try to qualify this statement: “are sometimes not” unwilling to cut corners. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. James Gatz was raised in overalls by dirt poor farmers; however, he felt that he was When you’re using “however” to join two separate sentences, punctuate like this: “farmers; however, he…” meant for more than the hard labor his parents were accustomed to. A chance encounter brings James to rescue a wealthy drunk from drowning in a storm, and from that moment forward he is Jay Gatsby. Jay learns the ways of a…

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Everyone has their own definition of success and a set of rules they abide by in order to achieve a goal. Life is a learning experience and each individual has a different level of what they believe is success. In the end, it is a genuine happiness, memories, and adventures that determine success in…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Fallacy of ‘The American Dream’ The American identity is built on the notion that if one works hard then he/she can get ahead regardless of their social condition. This notion is based on the concept of the American dream, which refers to the ideology that every American has an equitable and equal opportunity to achieve prosperity as long as he/ she is determined and works hard. Most economically successful people always claim to have attained the American dream.…

    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What in life makes one truly happy, and is it relatively attainable? Throughout our lives, we are constantly instructed and motivated by this idea that wealth and power bring joy, and we dedicate our existence working towards that goal. Fame and affluence are idolized, and there is a craving to be in the places of those who “made it”. This unseen mask that others put on is deceiving and immensely misleading towards admirers. Although one might say that money can buy happiness, the American Dream is reaching the point in one’s life in which they can personally believe that they are satisfied with what they have and don’t own a desire for needing more.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Great Success Definition

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Another definition from the dictionary that is more accurate which is, “Success is whenever an accomplishment is set and achieved.” The key word is success needs to be measured. A person needs to have a goal that has an end to it. Progress needs to be able to be tracked and once completed, success is obtained. An example of success that does not have to do with money is a person directing a food drive.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At the base of every American life, is a simple materialistic idea, to rise to a peak in a lifetime, whether that be a peak in career goals, or the gradual building of a family to a point in which one reaches the highest tier of the social ladder. The “American Dream” is a mindset drilled in every United States citizen brain, giving each an incentive to succeed. The American Dream that we know today has changed throughout the duration of American history. Before the need for mansions, fancy cars, and a lavish lifestyle, most Americans just wanted a just means of living. Unfortunately, most families, or lifestyles, have downsides or dark secrets that one would rather hide from society, as society itself tries to contort the image of perfection.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Great Gatsby Essay: The American Dream is an Illusion By: Nyashaateh Tut The American Dream. It is a Utopia ideal that has been absorbed by the minds of Americans.…

    • 1710 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    American Dream Attainable

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What determines if you will be successful in life? The American Dream is essentially; owning your own home, being able to retire, having a family, and getting your children off to college. It can be defined as the want for personal happiness and material security. It provides a goal that most people spend their entire life working toward, yet many wonder whether the American dream is still attainable. Due to the lack of well-paying jobs, the changes in our way of life since the idea was created, and the large amount of debt most Americans owe, the American Dream is no longer a possibility for most people.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The American Dream Regarding America’s poor economic state, Shirley Chisholm once said, “When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.” This unfortunate truth illustrates how twisted and corrupt the concept of the “American dream” has become. As Americans, we are taught that the only way to become truly happy is to be successful, and the only way to become truly successful is by obtaining fame and fortune -- via hard work, or otherwise. The reality of this seemingly ethical and feasible goal is that these virtues are almost impossible to obtain-- for the vast majority, at least. In this country, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer; the powerful stay in power, the weak are overlooked and ignored.…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The definition of success has been widely used as a catalyst for people who are hungry for more in life. What exactly is the definition of success, and why is it such a desirable concept? Being successful consists of inheriting good character and morals in order to achieve your goal in life. Hard work and dedication are both instrumental when it comes to getting what you want.…

    • 1018 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    F. Scott Fitzgerald is generally regarded as one of the great American writers. His work very much reflected on his life, specifically his pursuit of happiness and the “American Dream.” Fitzgerald was known social commentary, by telling what was going on in the upper class. He defined the culture of America in those times. He also commented on the decay of morales during the 1920’s.…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Success comes in different forms Success is within the mind of the individual. A large portion of one’s life is spent working to be successful. Everyone is told throughout their childhood to work hard to become successful and make money, but success comes in many different forms. Everyone has different interpretations of what success means to them. For some, success is measured by social status and for others success is determined by happiness.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Despite the largely common goal of the human race to be successful, why is it that so many feel as if they’ve failed? Why do so many people feel unfulfilled or unhappy with their lives? People in our society misunderstand the definition of success often having been brainwashed with the false definition of money or fame. In reality, the definition of success is much more complex. Success is defined by the dictionary as accomplishing an aim or purpose, but being considered success in life is much more about obtaining happiness.…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays