--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is self-defined. You can choose…" description: "\"Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think success is, and you can always change your mind.\" — Mark Manson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg" --- # Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think… ![“Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think success is, and you can always change your mind.” quote by Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg) > “Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think success is, and you can always change your mind.” [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends on personal definition rather than external standards, and it can be reshaped over time. **In simple terms:** Success is what you decide it is. Key Takeaway Define and revisit your own success. Themes self‑definition personal growth flexibility Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship goals - health habits - financial planning Key Concepts subjectivity mindset goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What does success look like for you now? - How can you adjust your definition as you evolve? A Different Perspective Your definition may clash with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Your Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-your-mind/) [Defined Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-choose-5137400/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defined-324710/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-change-942972/) [Success is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-is/) [Success Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-self-478658/) [Think Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-success/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I think success is the biggest challenge you have to handle in the National Football League; that's something we talk about a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/i-think-success-is-the-biggest-challenge-you-have-to-handle-in-the/) [Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/) > [Some people think success is overnight. I suppose, considering I came from Australia, it has been pretty quick. But I have a background in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/some-people-think-success-is-overnight-i-suppose-considering-i-came/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [I think success is what you make of it - of course there is always the factor of luck, but one should always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekta-kapoor/i-think-success-is-what-you-make-of-it-of-course-there-is-always-the/) [Ekta Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekta-kapoor/) > [I think success is finding happiness! Everyone certainly has different goals in life, and things that are important to them, and also things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/i-think-success-is-finding-happiness-everyone-certainly-has-different/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [The thing that frustrated me is that some people think success is all measured by money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/the-thing-that-frustrated-me-is-that-some-people-think-success-is-all/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I think success is when the way you talk about who you want to be and what you want to do lines up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-think-success-is-when-the-way-you-talk-about-who-you-want-to-be-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I think most of my success is my dedication, not my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/i-think-most-of-my-success-is-my-dedication-not-my-talent/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [I used to think that success was being the number one, being everywhere, being the star, and nowadays, I think that success is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/i-used-to-think-that-success-was-being-the-number-one-being/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [A man's sense of self is defined through his ability to achieve results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/a-man-s-sense-of-self-is-defined-through-his-ability-to-achieve/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [Beauty is self-defined, perceived and understood without ambiguity. It's the stuff that lies under the skins of our individual existences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/beauty-is-self-defined-perceived-and-understood-without-ambiguity-it/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Their (men) sense of self is defined through their ability to achieve results. They experience fulfillment primarily through success and accomplishment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/their-men-sense-of-self-is-defined-through-their-ability-to-achieve/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [Success and failure are largely self-defined in terms of personal standards. The higher the self-standards, the more likely will given attainments be viewed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/success-and-failure-are-largely-self-defined-in-terms-of-personal/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Therefore, for me, living true to my self may be defined as: Making the daily choices in all areas of my life that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therefore-for-me-living-true-to-my-self-may-be-defined-as-making-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been trying to arrive at a person who is self-defined and able to make my own mistakes rather than having other people make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/i-ve-been-trying-to-arrive-at-a-person-who-is-self-defined-and-able/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) ## More by Mark Manson > [“What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?” Because that seems to be a greater determinant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/what-pain-do-you-want-in-your-life-what-are-you-willing-to-struggle/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“death is the light by which the shadow of all of life’s meaning is measured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/death-is-the-light-by-which-the-shadow-of-all-of-life-s-meaning-is/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Many people measure their self-worth based on how much money they make... once one is able to provide for basic physical needs (food shelter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/many-people-measure-their-self-worth-based-on-how-much-money-they/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Because when you give too many fucks—when you give a fuck about everyone and everything—you will feel that you’re perpetually entitled to be comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/because-when-you-give-too-many-fucks-when-you-give-a-fuck-about/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Once upon a time, there were two youngsters, a boy and a girl. Their families hated each other. But the boy snuck into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/once-upon-a-time-there-were-two-youngsters-a-boy-and-a-girl-their/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“If it's down to me being screwed up, or everybody else being screwed up, it is far, far, far more likely that I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/if-it-s-down-to-me-being-screwed-up-or-everybody-else-being-screwed/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“If you’re miserable in your current situation, chances are it’s because you feel like some part of it is outside your control—that there’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/if-you-re-miserable-in-your-current-situation-chances-are-it-s/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Every new conversation, every new relationship, brings new challenges and opportunities for honest expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/every-new-conversation-every-new-relationship-brings-new-challenges/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“With great power comes great responsibility.” It is true. But there’s a better version of this quote, a version that actually is profound, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-it-is-true-but-there-s-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“If someone is better than you at something, then it’s likely because she has failed at it more than you have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/if-someone-is-better-than-you-at-something-then-it-s-likely-because/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Or let’s say you have an anger problem. You get pissed off at the stupidest, most inane stuff, and you have no idea why.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/or-let-s-say-you-have-an-anger-problem-you-get-pissed-off-at-the/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Some examples of good, healthy values: honesty, innovation, vulnerability, standing up for oneself, standing up for others, self-respect, curiosity, charity, humility, creativity. Some examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/some-examples-of-good-healthy-values-honesty-innovation-vulnerability/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“That's simply reality: if it feels like it's you versus the world, chances are it's really just you versus yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/that-s-simply-reality-if-it-feels-like-it-s-you-versus-the-world/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Generally, our first idea of what our business is going to be is not the right one. It takes a few iterations; to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/generally-our-first-idea-of-what-our-business-is-going-to-be-is-not/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Commitment gives you freedom because you’re no longer distracted by the unimportant and frivolous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/commitment-gives-you-freedom-because-you-re-no-longer-distracted-by/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) [Explore all 483 Mark Manson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think success is, and you can always change your mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Manson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-what-you-think-success-is-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-what-you-think-success-is-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/mark-manson-537_change_success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-w_639617.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success is self-defined. You can choose what you think success is, and you can always change your mind.” — Mark Manson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mark Manson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success is self-defined. You can choose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-what-you-think-success-is-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/success-is-self-defined-you-can-choose-what-you-think-success-is-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```