Success Poems
Published: October 2019
We all want to be successful. But what is success? Too many times, we measure it by a person's wealth or status. We often use those markers to determine whether or not we have been successful in life. Basing it on that criteria alone means that a lot of people will never meet the world's definition of "success."
Success is attaining a purpose or goal you have set out to accomplish. The poems in this collection take a deeper look at other definitions of success. It's not about living up to the world's standards. Being successful is much more than money or popularity. It's about being yourself, working hard to achieve your dreams, learning lessons from your mistakes, and living your best life.
The start of a new year is marked with many resolutions. Some look at keeping those resolutions as a marker for success. But for many, it's challenging to accomplish the goals we have at the beginning of the year. This year, instead of resolutions of losing weight or getting organized, why don't we focus on our character? Let's look for ways to be kinder, more encouraging, and present with those around us. Let's not get distracted by the expectations of the world. Instead, let's live out our own definition of success.
14 Poems About Success And Hard Work
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1. If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!Featured Shared StoryI was never an avid reader nor appreciated poetry most of my life. My dad sent me this poem for my 28th birthday, printed along with a lovely card. Living many miles away from him I often...
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2. Keep Going
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must—but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.Featured Shared StoryI've had this poem on my desk for the past 40 years of my life. In my darkest moments, it's given me light and a way to look beyond the clouds around me. It's a classic motivational...
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3. Equipment
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You've all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment they all began,
So start for the top and say "I can."
Look them over, the wise and great,
They take their food from a common plate
And similar knives and forks they use,
With similar laces they tie their shoes,
The world considers them brave and smart.
But you've all they had when they made their start.
You can triumph and come to skill,
You can be great if only you will,
You're well equipped for what fight you choose,
You have legs and arms and a brain to use,
And the man who has risen, great deeds to do
Began his life with no more than you.
You are the handicap you must face,
You are the one who must choose your place,
You must say where you want to go.
How much you will study the truth to know,
God has equipped you for life, But He
Lets you decide what you want to be.
Courage must come from the soul within,
The man must furnish the will to win,
So figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You were born with all that the great have had,
With your equipment they all began.
Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can."Featured Shared StoryI lost my wife Donna in April 2021. Edgar Albert Guest's poem is inspiring me to carry on and get on with things. Life is too short.
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4. If You Must Go
If you must go, then go for a while
Remember that first step is a hard traveled mile.
To learn what lessons life has in store,
You must be willing to open each door.
Don't be afraid to experience something new
For each experience will be a benefit to you.
Never live your life in the past
Enjoy every day as if it were your last
Mistakes you will make along the way
Learn from them, and you'll be okay
Set your goals high and strive for them
As long as you try, you'll never be condemned
Be kind and respect the people you meet
For they may be the ones to make life complete
Be sincere in everything you do
And treat others as you wish they would you
Whatever you do, make sure you're content
For the last thing you want is something to resent
So if you must go, then go for a while
And when you return, return with a smile.
Featured Shared StoryI, too, was motivated by your poem. Like Arimoon, I also allow my past to hold me back. I am so hard on myself for my past mistakes, regret, bad decisions, etc... but with each new day that...
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5. It Couldn't Be Done
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.Featured Shared StoryI memorized this poem more than 30 years ago and though I'm now 72, I still find myself quoting it often. In fact, I quote it almost every time I find myself engaged in an extremely difficult...
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6. If You Stand For Nothing You Will Fall For Anything
A time has come
and it is now.
Will you take a stand
or bend your knee and bow?
Will you state your case?
Will you run this race
or turn in disgrace,
try to hide your face?
You've spoken the word,
and by many were heard.
Now what will you do
when it's left up to you?
Will you act out your faith
in the midst of a trial?
Will you do what is right?
Will you put up a fight?
When you're put at a cross-road,
what choice will you make?
Will you stand for the truth
for the Lord's name sake?
Do what is right;
try not to lose sight.
make the right decision
amidst all the derision.
For when you've done all to stand,
take a hold of God's hand.
he will lead you and guide you,
staying right there beside you.
Don't try to please man
doing all that you can.
make time for the Lord;
you will reap a reward.
Be a blessing to others;
help your sisters and brothers.
Care for those in need.
Help multiply their seed.
Be gracious and faithful.
Be fair and be true,
looking not unto others.
Let the change come through you.Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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7. Don't Quit
When times are hard, you might stop for a bit,
But it's not over until the moment you quit.
On a river's bridge, failures are the planks;
Take one step at a time until you reach its banks.
Don't give up on your dreams; chase them instead;
You will find, one morning, as you wake up from bed,
That you are the person about whom you dreamed,
And you can reach great heights, impossible though it seemed.
When things go wrong and your back is to the wall,
Try to stand up; no more can you fall.
Life is full of ups and downs; take them in your stride.
You will discover your little star hidden inside.Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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8. If You Believe
When your mind is set
On a splendid thing you want to do,
There are some who will shrug,
Like you don't have a clue.
When you proceed,
Some will say it can't be done
And that there is really no need
For you to take it on.
And halfway through,
Some may deem your progress small,
Or others will ask if what you're doing
Is even worthwhile at all.
But when you succeed,
Then with flattering tongue,
The same folks will say they knew
That you'd do it all along.
Now, folks may mean well
When they say it can't be done,
But then who is to lose
If they are actually wrong?
But if you take note of why
Some doubt your point of view
And stick close to those
Who see the strength in you,
If you put your faith in God,
No matter how tough it may seem,
If you work hard, if you believe,
You will achieve your dream.
For what others think,
Whether or not you're strong or smart,
Sometimes, doesn't really count
As what you believe in your heart.Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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9. How Do You Measure Success In This Life?
How do you measure success in this life?
And who should decide if you fail?
Do life's sweet temptations guide you along?
Or in the end does your conscience prevail?
Is life just a game that you play every day?
Bending the rules for yourself?
Desperately chasing material goals
To the ruin of everything else.
Do you cherish the people around you?
Or do you squander the love that they share.
Do you take time to notice the efforts they make?
Or do you treat them as if they aren't there?
Do you wake up each morning just grateful to be?
Thanking God when you open your eyes?
And how many dawns do you gaze at the sky,
And stop to behold the sun rise?
How many moments in the course of your day
Do you treasure each second of time?
Embracing the sad and sweet that is there,
With the whole of your heart, soul and mind.
And despite any anger you suffer inside,
From the hurt and betrayals of life,
Do you manage to keep your own self-respect?
Or are you led by your own foolish pride?
Do you live by the motto forgive and forget,
Or consumed by the need for revenge?
Do you try every day to live open in truth,
Or is your life just a game of pretend?
For those who are young and new to this world,
So filled with your hopes and your dreams,
Take my advice, don't complicate life.
It is simpler than sometimes it seems.
For when you have reached the twilight of life,
All the answers are finally revealed.
And that searching and struggle that left you confused
With hindsight becomes crystal clear.
Hold fast to that childhood passion and awe.
Cling to each moment you get.
Let your heart feel completely each feeling you have,
And give the people you love all your best.
Don't waste or misuse this wonderful gift.
Don't surrender or grow too complacent.
Remember in the end it's all up to you,
And life can be all that you make it.Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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10. Successful Life
Death is an inevitable fate.
Someday we have to go.
You hope you did
your best in life,
but how are you to know?
It's not the model of your car
or brand of clothes you wear.
It's not some fancy, famous name,
sewn in your underwear.
It's not the square footage of your house
or what you keep inside.
There's no material you possess
that proves success in life.
It's everything you sacrificed
and choices you made.
It's all the problems that you solved,
your lessons from mistakes.
It's bad times you've persevered.
It's all the fun you've had.
It's any time you've ever laughed
and every tear you've shed.
It's any time that you've been proud
of others or yourself.
It's every song you turned up loud,
and every friend you helped.
It's every wish you ever had.
It's all your dreams and hopes.
It's all the books you ever read,
the movies that you've seen.
It's all the stories you told,
The places you've been.
It's every sunset that you caught
and every cent you spent.
It's anyone you've ever loved
who mourns you in the end.
It's all these things
and so much more,
so don't stress.
If you lived your life
Wild-n-free,
Then it's been a success.Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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11. Success
in Faith Poems
The road to success is not straight.
There is a curve called Failure,
A loop called Confusion,
Speed bumps called Friends,
Red lights called Enemies, and
Caution lights called Family.
But if you have a spare called Determination,
An engine called Perseverance,
Insurance called Faith, and
A driver called Jesus,
You will make it to a place called Success!!Featured Shared StoryThis poem really moved me. It made me think of my little sister Dana! Oh, how she is such a cutie. When I grow up, I was thinking about asking her to live with me! Ha! Ha!
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12. Success Does Not Possess
Success is not engraved
on the pieces of paper
that control our very lives.
Success is engraved
on our hearts
and is only uncovered
when we have found
true happiness.
Life's goal is not about
Possession.
Life is about learning
to accept yourself
and let things flow
in their most natural state,
To let go and drift
in the wind with a soul
as light
as a summer's breeze,
To see where life's
journey takes you,
To admire something
or someone you love
from afar,
Instead of contaminating
them with the suffocating
being of what we call
Possession.
Success
is about finding yourself
and your own meaning
of the existence of this
very tiny,
very isolated,
and intricately plotted
universe.
To find where you stand
and fit in the substantial
and never-ending vortex
we call space.
Success is not
just about living
but about being alive and content
with yourself.
Featured Shared StoryWell I met the author of this poem in 4th grade, and she's one of the most remarkable people I have ever known or ever hope to know.
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13. Who Will You Be?
Who will you be?
Will you pass?
Can you succeed?
Your future,
Funny word.
It determines your life.
It's the creation of what you do now.
Now is the time,
The time to strive.
Strive toward what you want.
No limits will be placed.
In order to succeed you must believe.
Believe you can do this.
Believe in anything.
Your future is who you are.
Your future is you.
Your future is who you will be.
Featured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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14. Promises To Keep
We resolve to turn a new leaf in our lives
Yet go back to whining old ways in no time
Why do we break promises ever so often
When we want a better future than our past or present?
Why do we not care for ourselves
Yet want a story that the world will tell?
But if you want to change your story forever
Inspiration and motivation will have to go together
An inspired heart can move mountains and cut the seas
Don't the stories of these people inspire thee?
Then comes the role of a motivated mind
If left idle it can behave weird many a times
Convince the mind before getting down to work
Else you will have to fight yourself first
But the protagonist of your story has the biggest role to play
If you don't care, then nobody will anyway
So be the change, and script your story your way
Start with fulfilling the promises you made
It is said a journey of thousand miles begins with one step
Likewise, success in future depends on the promises you kept
We have a long way to go and many promises to keep
So treasure every moment and every New Year equallyFeatured Shared StoryNo Stories yet, You can be the first!
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