Beyond the Finish Line: The Real Meaning of Success in Business

Success is often portrayed as a finish line—an achievement of wealth, status, or recognition. But in reality, success is much more complex and personal. At Fix & Form, we believe that success is not just about hitting milestones but about creating a life and business rooted in purpose, fulfillment, and authentic growth. True success isn’t a destination; it’s a journey shaped by values, impact, and continuous learning. Read on to learn about success in business. 

Defining Success in Business

We’ve all been asked at one time or another: how do you define success? The answer varies, but is always along the lines of achievement, fulfillment, satisfaction, or accomplishment. All common answers are in relation to an “end” or a “finish line.” But, what about the process and journey that got you there? Can that be part of the success? According to some of the most successful business people, the answer is yes. 

• The Journey: Success in business is not just the result but the sustainable success strategies of daily commitment, discipline, and perseverance it takes to reach a goal. It’s found in the lessons learned, the resilience built, and the small victories along the way. Every setback, challenge, and moment of growth contributes to the larger picture of success.
• The Finish Line: Reaching a goal is undoubtedly a significant moment. It signifies hard work paying off and represents an achievement. However, true success isn’t just about getting there; it’s about what you’ve gained and who you’ve become throughout the process. The most accomplished individuals often find that the journey was just as rewarding, if not more, than the outcome itself. 

The Myth of Overnight Success

As I am sure you are aware, achieving your dreams is no easy task. However, we often just assume those who are successful caught “lucky breaks,” or they were always destined for success. However, when evaluating some of the most successful people we often find that they often did not gain success overnight. 

Monumental Success Stories: 

1. The first success story that comes to mind is Dr. Seuss. Though he is now a household name for his success writing children’s books, Dr. Suess was not always successful. In fact, he was rejected by 27 publishers before landing a publisher. 
2. Another well known success story is Michael Jordan. Not only was he cut from his high school team, he went through a journey of unsuccessful runs of missing shots, losing games, and adversity. And yet, he is one of the most well-known basketball players. However, he attributes his success to these struggles, because without failure there is no success. 
3. A third success story to highlight is King Camp Gillette. Gillette razors, a leader in its industry, was not always what it is today. In fact, it took a big risk, lots of determination and grit to get where it is now. Slow but steady wins the race is exactly what Gillette experienced. 
4. Our success in business story here at Fix & Form is a long journey over 11 years, none of which has been overnight success. Here are a few crucial moments that made it successful along the way.
   1. In the first year of business, 2014 in Austin, TX, before our founder, Anne, had kids, she figured out some MAJOR tax solutions to getting a startup running. She  taught herself all she needed to know about S-corporation taxes, and naturally felt like the baddest boss ever. 
   2. A second moment was rebranding the company, when she rebranded the original AG Brand + Marketing, in 2021, to Fix & Form and hired a great friend and amazing writer to rebrand the website. She read her words on Anne’s story over and over and cried. Anne felt like she finally made it. 
   3. A third moment came recently,, when a new client told me he searched for “brand strategist” and Fix & Form came up, then our amazing Google reviews led him to call Anne. They spoke for 45 minutes and he shared he was speaking with 3 agencies for his company rebranding work. We won and kicked off in April, and that was a huge win for Anne with our SEO efforts, review efforts, and showing up!

• Lessons We Can Learn: All three of these success stories have one thing in common–time. No single success story is something that happens overnight. While some influencers might appear to “blow up” overnight, the reality is there are years and years of work behind the scenes of their ultimate success. Dr. Suess and Michael Jordan teach us that failure is what makes success that much sweeter. Without adversity, we can never learn and we lose motivation to chase what we are passionate for. Gillette teaches us that sometimes a calculated risk is what it takes. We must be willing to not only work hard, but have courage to keep going and try new things. 

How You Can Achieve Success in Business

So, how can you be successful? We know not everyone will be a celebrity, but fame is not what makes someone successful. It is a sustainable success strategy of pure grit, determination, and passion that fulfills dreams. 

• Slow and steady wins the race: We all know the story of the “Tortoise and the Hare.” While it is easy to dismiss this analogy, it perfectly rings true for achieving success. The people we admire built their success through years of consistency, showing up when motivation was low and pushing forward when progress felt invisible. If you’re constantly looking for shortcuts or chasing trends(the hare), you may find quick wins, but those victories are often short-lived. The real key to success is persistence (the tortoise): showing up, refining your craft, and staying committed to the long game, even when no one is watching. 
• Focus in the moment: It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture—imagining where you’ll be in five years, stressing about the competition, or feeling overwhelmed by the gap between where you are and where you want to be. But the truth is, success is built in the present. Instead of worrying about the end result, focus on what you can do today. When you train yourself to be fully engaged in each step, you produce better work, make smarter decisions, and experience less stress along the way. Athletes don’t win championships by thinking about the trophy every second—they train, practice, and refine their skills in the moment. Entrepreneurs don’t build successful businesses by obsessing over future profits—they focus on serving their customers today. If you take care of what’s in front of you, what you can control, the results will follow.
• Celebrate the small wins: Success isn’t just found in the big achievements—it’s in the small victories of personal growth along the way. Every challenge overcome, every lesson learned, every risk taken matters. We often dismiss small progress as insignificant, waiting for the “big moment” to feel accomplished. By celebrating small wins—completing a difficult project, making a meaningful connection, learning a new skill—you build momentum. These moments reinforce progress, boost confidence, and keep you moving forward. Think of success like climbing a mountain. If you only celebrate when you reach the peak, you’ll miss the beauty of the climb. But if you acknowledge each milestone you’ll stay motivated and energized for the journey ahead.

What Will be Your Success Story?

Authenticity is something that everyone wants, but is hard to come by. The increasing desire for authenticity from businesses and in personal relationships makes the importance of understanding what it means to “be real” even more critical. Take it from our “The Truth Behind Transparency in Business” blog, where we unveil how transparency, just like authenticity, can transform your career and life.

• Goal Setting: You cannot be successful in business if you do not have goals. We all have most likely heard of a SMART goal at one point or another. As annoying they might be, they work! Set a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Write it out. Studies show we are 1.4 more times more likely to achieve something that we write down. So, take those “self help” books seriously and get to journaling!
• Focus, But Not Too Hard: Now that you have your goal, it is time to get to work. Find a support system around you that will push you when times get hard, give you an outlet to rest and recharge, and inspire you to push your goals beyond their limits. While your end goal should always be in focus, it should not consume you. Remember, success is just as much of the journey as it is the outcome! Focus on the journey you are on, what you can learn from each step, and take time to take a step back when needed. Balance is a key part to avoid burnout and stay motivated to achieve your ultimate goal. 
• Document your Journey: You should be excited and passionate about what you are doing even when you face challenges. Document your personal growth on every level in some form. This will provide a way for you to look back on everything you have gone through, making the end goal feel that much more of a milestone. Share your journey with your support system. The more we talk about what excites us the more passionate we are. In the process of celebrating the small wins, also be humble enough to reflect on the struggles. Remember, there is no success without failure of some form. Embrace it!

Success can mean something different for everyone. However, we are all chasing something. At Fix & Form, we would love to hear not just about how you can be successful in business, but more importantly your journey and goals to success. Let’s Connect, we would love to be a part of your journey!