On one common conception of success, being successful is all about reaching a particular goal or achievement. For example, you might think that you’ll be a success if you get that promotion at work, finish your degree, or get married. However, it’s worth asking whether this is really the right type of way to think about success—not least because this simple model suggests that success licenses us to just sit back and bask in the glory of our accomplishments.
In this TED talk, Richard St. John gives you a wakeup call about the true nature of success.
Intimately acquainted with not just success but also failure, he’s here to explain why you should think of success as a journey rather than a one-way street.
One key message worth taking away from St. John’s presentation is that you shouldn’t stop doing what you love once you reach a certain milestone—and if you do, you may just find that success 
quickly leads to failure. Instead, learn from St. John’s mistakes, and don’t quit trying just because you think you’ve become successful.
In addition remember that there are many ways to be successful, and that it’s up to you to decide what you value enough to pursue. Whether it’s love, money, fame, academic success or a combination of all of these things, find what you love, go after it, and don’t lose focus or adopt a role you don’t want just because it’s expected of you at a certain stage.
