Please take this survey...

To help me along with this new book, I thought I'd put together a little survey, thus...

What is success? How do we know we are living successful lives?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines success as: a) a degree or measure of succeeding, b) a favorable or desired outcome, and c) the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. American Heritage defines it similarly. But how do these definitions pertain to our lives? Can we really consider ourselves successful merely on these terms?

I am presently working on a novel that addresses just this issue: how do we reconcile ourselves to our successes and our failures. To this end, I’ve broadened the dictionary’s definition to include the following: a) Success is a positive resolution in the process of self-definition. An action with a positive outcome, we term “success”. An action with a negative outcome, we term “failure”, and b) Success is the yardstick against which we measure our lives.

As you can probably see, I’m hoping to address the concept of success as a long-term concept. It’s easy to accept or gain success in the short term, via a test grade or a party your threw or a job you did well, but long-term success in life is, in my experience, much harder to define.

This is simply scratching the surface and that’s why I need your help. The survey, below, asks questions about success. I would like to have as many people possible complete this survey as part of a study (however unscientific) on the idea of success. Please complete it right away, posting your results in the comments section. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and participation.

Success Survey

1. Looking back on your entire life, do you consider yourself a success or failure? Please provide up to five reasons why.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.


2. What specific qualities make you a success/failure?

3. How can you achieve success in your life? What are you doing to achieve success?

4. Why do people fail to achieve success?

5. How much importance do you place on living a “successful life”? Why?

Round Two: Demographics

6. Gender:

7. Date of Birth:

8. Years of Education (above high school, count years progressively: 13, 14, etc.):