10 Key Factors to Success (And Tips for Measuring Success)

Updated 6 September 2022

Success may mean different things to different people. No matter what your idea of success is, finding out the secret to success may help you live a personally and professionally fulfilling life. For that, it is beneficial to figure out how to be successful and also be willing to put in the effort. In this article, we discuss the key factors to success and also look at why these factors are important.

What Makes You Successful In Life?

Success can be very subjective. A person can be considered successful when they have achieved the goals they have set for themselves. Success does not necessarily mean that you have to be wealthy, accomplished or powerful. But it means that you have become the best version of yourself and have utilised your abilities to the maximum. This may also help you lead a happier life.

There are many ways to be successful in your personal and professional life. Strategies to achieve success may vary depending on the area in which you want to achieve success in. In addition to achieving success at your work, it is equally important to prioritise relationships, your mental and physical health and other factors contributing to your happiness. But generally, there are some common tips that you can include in your daily life to lead a fulfilling life.

How Do You Determine Key Success Factors?

Success in life may be defined by the individual. Your idea of success may differ greatly from someone else's idea of success. Once you learn how to succeed, you can apply the same strategies to other areas to improve the quality of your life. Figure out what works for you and what does not. This may give you an idea about your individualistic approach to doing things.

10 key factors to success

Here is a list of 10 key factors which can help you achieve success in your life:

1. Having a clear plan

The first thing you can do to have a successful life is to lay out a plan. You can include your goals and aspirations in your plan. Try to be very detailed when you are writing it down. Having a clear idea of where you want to be may help you streamline your actions and achieve your goals. Although success may look different to everyone, it is important that you explore your own ideas of success. Try not to be influenced by the ideas of others regarding your success.

2. Prioritising your goals

Once you have made a list of your goals, it is important to prioritise them. Some goals may be long term, while others short term. It is important to dedicate your time according to each goal. Determine which goals require your immediate attention and which do not. Realise that your time and resources are limited, hence it is important to allocate time to each goal judiciously.

3. Acquiring relevant education and skills

The world is very fast-paced and competitive, hence to succeed you may have to acquire relevant educational qualifications. A good education may provide you with ample knowledge, insights and a comprehensive understanding to help you achieve success in your chosen profession. In addition to this, it is also important to polish your skill set regularly. The more you enhance your skill set, the better the opportunities to advance your career. Hence, be a lifelong student and constantly improve yourself by gaining new knowledge or acquiring new skills.

4. Cultivating good habits

Habits are your lifelong companions, hence it is important that you cultivate good habits that help you to be more productive and organised. This can help boost your capacity and help achieve goals. It may also help you to save time. Try to be clear and focused. Good habits have the power to change the quality or direction of our lives. If your old habits are holding you back, try to cultivate new habits and slowly let go of old and unhelpful ones.

5. Having a positive attitude

Try to have a positive and constructive attitude. You can choose to see the positive side of things in every situation, no matter the circumstances. A positive attitude can affect every aspect of life and may help you tackle difficult circumstances. When you have a positive attitude, you are much better equipped to deal with stress in a healthier way. An optimistic worldview may also help you be grateful for the good things in life.

6. Learning from your mistakes

Mistakes and failures are inevitable in life. Although, one can achieve success by trying and failing many times. Learn from your previous failures and try to put that learning into practice. Re-examine what went wrong to understand where you have to improve. Try to gain the necessary skills, knowledge or tools to avoid pitfalls in the future. Keep reviewing your progress at regular intervals and try to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

7. Being open to new things

An openness to new things can improve your opportunities for gaining new experiences and learning about new possibilities. Be open to new ideas, methods and experiences. Try out unconventional strategies to perform routine tasks. Approach your goals from a different perspective occasionally. There can be a number of effective ways to accomplish a task. You can adopt different ones until you find the one that suits you. Challenge yourself and set achievable goals which can help you improve.

8. Taking risks

Taking risks might be challenging for most people. People tend to stick to what they know, but that limits the possibility of finding something better. Try out different strategies and methods. Take well researched, smart risks which can turn out to be very fruitful.

Explore and study potential liabilities and outcomes, and prepare for them in advance. Develop an aptitude for taking risks. You may come across a few failures, but eventually, you can learn to recognise the risks that are worth taking. You can start by taking small risks and once you have become comfortable, you can gradually take bigger calculated risks.

9. Working hard

There can be no substitute for hard work. It is an essential requirement if you want to be successful, whether it is in your personal or professional life. Working hard may not come easily, but with consistent effort, it may become easier. Hard work may also earn you respect and recognition and impact your work positively. You may be able to enhance your work ethic through practice.

10. Always being prepared

Preparation is crucial to achieving success. Whether it is for a meeting or a presentation, always ensure that you do your own research. This can help you to contribute meaningfully to any conversation, ask relevant questions and come up with solutions. Try to plan your work and prepare your skills so that you are ready for any problems that may arise. The future can be uncertain, so it never hurts to be prepared.

Tips For Measuring Success In Life

It is often hard to measure and define success. Success can be based on what people consider to be important in their lives. For a business, you have tangible figures to help you determine whether it is profitable or not. For individuals, it is very hard to determine and quantify success. Achieving goals usually gives people a sense of accomplishment. Hence, it is important to identify these goals.

Here is a list of things to keep in mind while you measure success in your life:

Explore your values: Find out what you value most. It is easy to sideline your own values and go with what people generally consider as success.
Try not to compare yourself to others: Your success cannot be measured in comparison with the success of your peers. Try to avoid comparison and instead focus on self-improvement.
Success does not happen overnight: Try not to measure your success through immediate results. Even if your attempt was not successful, you may have gained a lot of experience and knowledge from it.
Make progress: Evaluate your success over a period of time. If you have evolved and improved from the past, then it means that you have made progress.
Have consistency: Being consistent over a longer period of time may yield the best results. Even though you may be met with a lack of success initially, if you are able to maintain a consistent level of dedication over a period of time, then it can produce favourable results.