What is Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson: Living by Transcendent Values

Success means many things to different people. The famous poem “What is Success” by Ralph Waldo Emerson examines the meaning of success through a utopian philosophical lens. Emerson posits that true success comes from within and achieving full potential. As such, Emerson’s views on success can be applied to modern social conditions in personal and professional contexts.

Transcendent success is the result of purpose and growth

Define success

In What is Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the poem defines success as:

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and

the affection of children;

To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure

the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To give of one's self;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and

sung with exultation;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you

have lived -

This is to have succeeded. (Emerson 1-15)

For Emerson, success is not defined by wealth, fame, or social status. Rather, it means living life to the fullest through joy, relationships, creativity, and positively impacting everyone and everything. This definition transcends material goals and focuses on spiritual and emotional fulfillment.

Success in business

While Emerson’s views were philosophical, they can also be applied to success in business. He emphasizes values like creativity, relationships, and social impact–factors linked to success in business leadership roles.

According to Emerson, business leaders should focus on more than just profits and status. For true success, they must empower employees, build an ethical corporate culture, and positively influence society. Again, success is realizing both personal and professional potential.

Achieving success

Emerson argues that success is initially intrinsic. It starts from within. To succeed, business leaders must have self-awareness, stay true to their values, and continually cultivate personal growth. This provides the moral compass for making ethical decisions.

Secondly, success requires tapping into creativity and unique talents. Emerson believed, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something is the greatest accomplishment.”

Lastly, success is about contribution. Emerson wrote, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, honorable, compassionate, and have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Conclusion

Emerson’s philosophy provides timeless insights on achieving success in business and life. His focus on fulfillment over materialism, ethics over ego, and social contribution and impact over status are lessons all leaders can apply. Though written in the nineteenth century, Emerson’s wisdom resonates in today’s ever-dynamic world.

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Frequently asked questions

What success did Ralph Waldo Emerson have?

Ralph Waldo Emerson (who went by Waldo) was an influential American philosopher and essayist in the 19th century. He had success as an intellectual and writer. Some of Emerson’s significant accomplishments include the following:

• Becoming a leading voice for Transcendentalism through his writings and lectures.
• Publishing acclaimed essays like “The American Scholar.”
• Giving over 1,500 public lectures in his lifetime on a wide range of topics.
• Inspiring and mentoring other leading literary figures like Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller.
• Serving as the first editor of the transcendentalist journal The Dial.
• Challenging social conventions and promoting individualism and the power of the human spirit.
• Becoming recognized as one of America’s most influential thinkers and pioneering a distinctly American philosophical tradition.

While Emerson did not pursue traditional success like wealth and fame, he achieved immense success through his intellectual contributions that helped shape American literature and philosophy. He lived his definition of success focused on creativity, social impact, and self-realization.

What is a success poem?

A success poem is an inspirational poem that focuses on defining or achieving success. Unlike traditional poems, success poems aim to motivate, uplift, and empower readers. Commons features include the following:

• Providing an expanded definition of success beyond fame and fortune.
• Emphasizing inner fulfillment, self-awareness, and purpose.
• Encouraging virtues like passion, perseverance, creativity, and contribution.
• Using affirmative language and positive messages.
• Rhyming and rhythmic structure that is memorable and impactful

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “What is Success” is an example of a success poem. Other famous success poems include “If” by Rudyard Kipling and “Don’t Quit” by John Greenleaf Whittier. These poems inspire personal growth and achievement in readers.

References:

Ralph Waldo Emerson. (2023, November 4). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson

Groysberg, B., & Abrahams, R. (2014, February 25). What Does Success Mean to You? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from https://hbr.org/2014/02/what-does-success-mean-to-you