This is what hard work and success means to me: To the extent that you are attempting to manifest your potential, and directing your aim such that you are succ

This is what hard work and success means to me: To the extent that you are attempting to manifest your potential, and directing your aim such that you are successful in raising the bar through a meta-goal - i.e. attempting to orient yourself through a range set of goals with the overall meta-goal being life itself. Once you have actually determined that you want things to be better, you can then proceed to direct your actions and judgements appropriately. Perform a regular evaluation period where you can determine whether: a) your goals are in fact what you should be aiming at, b) whether your actions are appropriately working in your favor, and c) whether you are making the correct judgements. This process of evaluation is truth telling in itself.