Success can be measured any number of ways. For many people, success is measured by financial wealth. For others, being successful may mean prestige within a career or raising children who grow up to be happy, responsible adults. How you measure your success depends upon your personal values. If being successful means having a lucrative career, then your success will require education, professional expertise and planning skills. On the other hand, if success to you means having a strong, loving circle of friends and family, your success will be measured by how well you interact and promote those relationships. Succeeding in life, no matter how it is measured, relies heavily on being honest, putting out effort, being thrifty, and kind.

Honesty and integrity

Without respect and admiration, any other success one might experience is shallow and empty. Practicing honesty, integrity, and courtesy in your dealings with others sets you apart from the crowd as someone who is trustworthy and reliable. Very often, individuals with those traits find themselves offered opportunities for advancement that they might not otherwise receive.

Hard work pays off

Putting your nose to the grindstone may prove uncomfortable, at times, but it is a necessary aspect of a successful life. By working hard, whether professionally or socially, you can maintain your independence, both financially and personally. Being in debt to others drains your finances, your energy, and your sense of self worth. Whatever your goals may be, putting out skilled, honest effort provides you with pride, confidence, and opportunities for advancement.

Thriftiness

Using money, time, and resources wisely allows a person to accomplish more with less effort. Scattering your energies and your finances often leads to ruin and unhappiness. No one can live beyond their means indefinitely. Bankruptcy, of one sort or another, is bound to catch up with you eventually. By choosing to limit yourself to reasonable expenditures of time and money, you will find yourself free to enjoy the things that really matter, such as family, friends, and activities that you enjoy.

Kindness

Being kind to others and yourself is critical to a successful life. Being a good friend, a caring family member, or a responsible citizen goes a long way to creating harmony at home and in the world. Kindness can be shown through charitable works, common courtesy, and treating yourself gently. Pushing others aside to reach your idea of success is no success at all. The greed that causes a need for power over others, deceitful business dealings, and malicious relationships is a deadly addiction that robs you of any real success you may experience.

To be successful in your own life, it is imperative that you identify what is most important to you, be it family, career, making the world a little better, or a new discovery, and then applying the honesty, kindness, thrift, and hard work needed to accomplish those goals.