--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success isn't something you have, it's…" description: "\"“Success isn't something you have, it's something you do. Don't be fooled into taking shortcuts, they always lead to a dead-end. Instead, establish a g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steve-maraboli-178_action_success-isn-t-something-you-have-it-s-so_2432701.jpg" --- # Success isn't something you have, it's something you do… ![“Success isn't something you have, it's something you do. Don't be fooled into taking shortcuts, they always lead to a dead-end. Instead, establish a goal, make a plan, and take purposeful action. Those who experience success are those who live it; those who earn it.” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steve-maraboli-178_action_success-isn-t-something-you-have-it-s-so_2432701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steve-maraboli-178_action_success-isn-t-something-you-have-it-s-so_2432701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steve-maraboli-178_action_success-isn-t-something-you-have-it-s-so_2432701.jpg) > ““Success isn't something you have, it's something you do. Don't be fooled into taking shortcuts, they always lead to a dead-end. Instead, establish a goal, make a plan, and take purposeful action. Those who experience success are those who live it; those who earn it.”” [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success results from deliberate effort, planning, and consistent action, not passive possession. **In simple terms:** Success is earned through purposeful work. Key Takeaway Plan, act, and persist. Themes motivation goal‑setting discipline integrity Mood inspirational pragmatic Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurship - personal development - fitness training Key Concepts self‑efficacy habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small daily actions build toward your big goal? - How do you resist tempting shortcuts? A Different Perspective Shortcuts may offer quick gains but undermine long‑term growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“It is important that when we make a resolution, or establish a goal, that we take the ACTION necessary to accomplish that goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-is-important-that-when-we-make-a-resolution-or-establish-a-goal/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“BREAKING NEWS: You're awesome and designed for success; live this day accordingly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/breaking-news-you-re-awesome-and-designed-for-success-live-this-day/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [If you have the desire, if you establish the goal - which is harmony, which is happiness through liberation- then these stages of revolt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/if-you-have-the-desire-if-you-establish-the-goal-which-is-harmony/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“You want to BE happy and HAVE success? Join those words, BE+HAVE… To experience success in your life requires that you decide what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-want-to-be-happy-and-have-success-join-those-words-be-have-to/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Be + Have = Behave. You will experience your success when you BEHAVE accordingly. BE and you shall HAVE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/be-have-behave-you-will-experience-your-success-when-you-behave/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [To achieve success wasn't to get into the major leagues or have the best season in the world. 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In life everything has its bright sides, you just need to perceive life positively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeekeshen-chinnappen/failing-adds-to-your-experience-success-adds-to-your-self-image-in/) [Jeekeshen Chinnappen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeekeshen-chinnappen/) > [You must take the bad before you get the good. You must endure failure before you experience success, and you must lose before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/you-must-take-the-bad-before-you-get-the-good-you-must-endure-failure/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) ## More by Steve Maraboli > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. 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Speak only the good you know of other people and encourage others to do the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/walk-away-from-gossip-and-verbal-defamation-speak-only-the-good-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Even though she would dream of love, respect, and unfettered romance... it was a cyclical dilemma in her life that she seemed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/even-though-she-would-dream-of-love-respect-and-unfettered-romance-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) [Explore all 990 Steve Maraboli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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