Task 6 - The Definition of Success

The writer Ralph Waldo Emerson has an easy definition of the word “success”, summed up in nine points, which all are achievable if you try.

How would you define success?

His first definition is “to laugh much”. Very achievable if you ask me.

If you live a good life, surrounded with friends and family that you care about, and that care about

you too, laughter comes as a natural reaction to fun. Is it fun to have success?

Is laughter a natural reaction to success?

His second definition is “to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children”.

Are you immediately successful if a little child gives you their love and affection?

I ask these questions because I want you to think.

Read over his points, and make up your own definition, and meaning. 

The writer has an easy definition of success. He means that if you manage to achieve these

nine points he mentioned, you have succeeded in life, and you have succeeded in the

relationships you have. I think that many of his points can, combined with the definition of

happiness, and the fact that you have done something of interest, be the definition of success.    

Of course, everyone should have, his or her, own opinion about the definitions, but this is a good guideline.

                             THE AMERICAN DREAM

Do people still believe that the American Dream can be achieved?

People do still believe in the stereotypical American Dream. The fact that you can come from almost nothing, with no means, and still manage to work your way up and succeed, still stands strong.

People do believe that hard work profits, and that the work will eventually pay off. It is just the moral and work ethic in America. You can get anything you want if you just dream big enough. The goal can be money, fame or material happiness, but also a healthy family, the ability to love someone, and so on. The reams are individual, and many will say that it is the dreams that keeps them going. In financial crisis, and when things get a little rough, people shift their impression of the American Dream, and it is suddenly more about values and not so much about material success.

More Americans says in the poll that they have reached “The American Dream”, or will so in a short amount of time. In 2005, there were approximately 32% yes, or will so in the nearest future. In 2009, to a difference, 44% said that they had achieved it, or was going to in future.

So more people believe in the dream today.

How has the definition of the American Dream changed?

The poll that the New York Times published shows us the difference.

People want opportunities, they want to make up their own decision and decide for themselves what they want to be, and when. The American dream before was about material success and material happiness, the tendency in this poll is that the people want the complete opposite.

People now appreciate values over material. They want to have freedom, opportunities and the insurance that their family can live a great life.

The Americans think about the future, and they want to make it their own.  

Quotes by Oscar Wilde