--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are a success when you have made…" description: "\"You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future\" — Zig Ziglar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png" --- # You are a success when you have made friends with your… ![“You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future” quote by Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png) > “You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future” [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is achieved by reconciling with one's past, staying present‑focused, and maintaining optimism about the future. **In simple terms:** Success needs past peace, present focus, future optimism. Key Takeaway Balance past, present, future for success. Themes self‑development optimism balance Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal healing - mindfulness practice - future planning Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor your past while moving forward? - What daily habits keep you present? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on any one time frame can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Bright future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bright-future/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past present future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-present-future/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-attitude/) [Positive expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-expectations/) [Positive inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-inspirational/) [Positivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positivity/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Your future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-future/) [Your past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-past/) ## Related quotes > [The worst has happened. 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Then, later on, when you are rich and famous, you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-you-are-young-and-without-success-you-have-only-a-few-friends/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Success--something your friends will never forgive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-tuwim/success-something-your-friends-will-never-forgive-you/) [Julian Tuwim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-tuwim/) > [It sounds cliche, but success is your friends, your family, what you do, and if you're happy when you wake up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/it-sounds-cliche-but-success-is-your-friends-your-family-what-you-do/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [The truth is, success often occurs for reasons we don't expect, under circumstances over which we have little control and sometimes unrelated to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/the-truth-is-success-often-occurs-for-reasons-we-don-t-expect-under/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Success to me is my friends and family are healthy and happy and I feel good about myself at the end of the night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/success-to-me-is-my-friends-and-family-are-healthy-and-happy-and-i/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [Success has many friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/success-has-many-friends/) Greek Proverb > [Regardless of your past, your tomorrow is a clean slate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/regardless-of-your-past-your-tomorrow-is-a-clean-slate/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/when-we-create-something-we-always-create-it-first-in-a-thought-form/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [Have an attitude of positive expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/have-an-attitude-of-positive-expectation/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Most things don't work out as expected, but what happens instead often turns out to be the good stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/most-things-don-t-work-out-as-expected-but-what-happens-instead-often/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Optimists and pessimists die the exact same death, but they live very different lives!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/optimists-and-pessimists-die-the-exact-same-death-but-they-live-very/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [If you want good things to happen in your life you first have to believe good things are possible for yourself. Quit allowing negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/if-you-want-good-things-to-happen-in-your-life-you-first-have-to/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [H=have O=only P=positive E=expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/h-have-o-only-p-positive-e-expectations/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lucky people generate their own good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating their own chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wiseman/lucky-people-generate-their-own-good-fortune-via-four-basic/) [Richard Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wiseman/) ## More by Zig Ziglar > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A plan is always successful if the plan is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-plan-is-always-successful-if-the-plan-is-good/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many times our weaknesses are extensions of our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-our-weaknesses-are-extensions-of-our-strengths/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-s-not-what-you-ve-got-it-s-what-you-use-that-makes-a-difference/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [When there is hope in the future, there is power in the present, and since hope is the foundational quality of all change, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-there-is-hope-in-the-future-there-is-power-in-the-present-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The way you look on the outside has a definite bearing on how you feel and see yourself on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-way-you-look-on-the-outside-has-a-definite-bearing-on-how-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [God showed me that He could and would replace everything that was missing in my life, but that nothing could replace Him in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/god-showed-me-that-he-could-and-would-replace-everything-that-was/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [As you move to the top, remember the story of the pump. If you start pumping casually or half -heartedly, you will pump forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/as-you-move-to-the-top-remember-the-story-of-the-pump-if-you-start/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success comes from repeated efforts day in and day out. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue pressing forward until you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-comes-from-repeated-efforts-day-in-and-day-out-you-learn-from/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/positive-thinking-will-let-you-use-the-ability-which-you-have-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It will be disastrous when a leader or manager shows up with one attitude one day and treats people with a different attitude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-will-be-disastrous-when-a-leader-or-manager-shows-up-with-one/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-go-looking-for-a-friend-you-re-going-to-find-they-re-very/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) [Explore all 788 Zig Ziglar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## More Being successful quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [You cannot be successful without passion. If you don't love what you're doing, if you don't have passion for it - forget it. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-cannot-be-successful-without-passion-if-you-don-t-love-what-you/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You can't not be a little different from others and be successful for three decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/you-can-t-not-be-a-little-different-from-others-and-be-successful-for/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Everyone has a breaking point, turning point, stress point, the game is permeated with it. The fans don't see it because we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everyone-has-a-breaking-point-turning-point-stress-point-the-game-is/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [If you increase the number of rockets you build and you buy, then it's the scale of the economy, the price is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/if-you-increase-the-number-of-rockets-you-build-and-you-buy-then-it-s/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/hockey-is-a-unique-sport-in-the-sense-that-you-need-each-and-every/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [There has always been a display of wealth and always will be, until the depression comes, which it always does. And let me tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/there-has-always-been-a-display-of-wealth-and-always-will-be-until/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [There's nobody that wants the president to be successful more than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/there-s-nobody-that-wants-the-president-to-be-successful-more-than-i/) [James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/) > [Don't worry about your individual numbers. Worry about the team. If the team is successful, each of you will be successful, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/don-t-worry-about-your-individual-numbers-worry-about-the-team-if-the/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [We have to be successful at the cutting-edge industries of the future like Twitter. But we also have always been a country that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-to-be-successful-at-the-cutting-edge-industries-of-the-future/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Also, it's not the mathematical skill that's critical to winning, it's the discipline of being able to stick to the system. There are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-hull/also-it-s-not-the-mathematical-skill-that-s-critical-to-winning-it-s/) Blair Hull [Browse all 1,002 Being successful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zig Ziglar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-friends-with-your-past-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being successful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-friends-with-your-past-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/zig-ziglar-263_being-successful_you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-fri_1692256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic…” — Zig Ziglar", "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": "Zig Ziglar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You are a success when you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-friends-with-your-past-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-are-a-success-when-you-have-made-friends-with-your-past-are/#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 } } ] } ```