The Meaning of Success

So as I sometimes like to do I looked up the definition of the word success. Here it is via the oxford dictionary:

Definition of success

noun • the accomplishment of an aim or purpose:the president had some success in restoring confidence • the attainment of popularity or profit:the success of his play • a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity:I must make a success of my business • archaic the outcome of an undertaking, specified as achieving or failing to achieve its aims:the good or ill success of their maritime enterprises

The reason this particular word seems to interest me is that so many people that seem anti-profit or that deem profit as a bad thing might want to look this up for themselves. As far back as the mid-16th century profit was actually linked to the word success. I also noted that nowhere I looked in the definition did I find the word happy. Happiness is not linked to profit; however, profit is all over it. So it begs the question; Is profit a bad thing or a good thing? The answer to that may also be linked to the question are you a capitalist or a socialist? If you truly believe in capitalism then profit is not a bad thing and indeed the end game.

It seems a bit hypocritical for so many to be anti-profit now and yet if they were to look at the comforts they enjoy, those comforts would be impossible enjoying without achieving some sort of profit. It really boils down to the fact that so many, and I’m guilty at times, look at others and fail to look in the mirror. So many are quick to criticize the wealthy and profitable as evil. Not that long ago wealth was actually a positive thing that showed a person or company was successful. I think socialism is creeping into our society now where being successful is deemed the same thing as being greedy and therefore must be an achievement on the backs of the poor and oppressed.

I’m not sure how this attitude gets turned around and I fear we will continue to drift in that direction. There are too many in our society now with their hands out who have the expectation that things should be handed over to them in the name of social justice. I think we have created this situation by our own hand. Technology has made everything so instant and easy that it is now translating to everything in life. If it is now not quick and easy than it must be unjust. It is a sad state of affairs. Work is now the new four letter word.

I just thought I would share these thoughts. I may be getting old and cranky but it is how I see things moving and I see real difficulty changing these attitudes. I will now go and pray I am wrong.