One of the most important drivers of anyone's life is the idea of succeeding or being a success. Everyone strives to be something, someone or to get somewhere. We are always judging others and ourselves as to whether success has been achieved or not. Our idea of success matters, particularly as our perceptions of it can help us to feel good or feel otherwise.

But what does success really mean? What does success mean to you? Is it about always being first or the top of any and everything you strive for, everything you put effort into?

If you are a teacher does success mean becoming the Headteacher? If you are play chess does success mean becoming county champion? If you are in a business meeting does success mean always being the one who has the most to say?

Also with whatever you are heading in, is it your success that you seek or are you attempting to succeed at something for someone else's idea of what success is? Owning your own life and owning what is important to you is the first step to being a success at what is right for you.

Some people unwittingly fall into the trap of doing things for other people. I don't mean helping other people, what I mean is doing something that will please another person. For instance you no doubt have heard more than one person say something like: -

"I am studying to be an accountant... for my Dad"

"I am training to be a runner because my Mum was a champion runner and she would love to see me be as good as her"

Have you got a similar example of a thought or even a reason that you started out on a particular course in life? If so, you may have found out later on, particularly when you struggled, that actually you weren