How do we define success? The world is full of different concepts and images of success and most of us have our own personal internal notion of what it means to be successful and how we can identify and distinguish successes from failures. For some it is the creation of something new, or the achievement of personal goals and ambitions, for others the restoration of something that has been, and for some it is simply the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘evil’, where happiness and well-being has replaced the hardships that life can throw at us.

Whatever the case, success will always have a story behind it to learn from and be inspired by and perhaps the most interesting of these are the stories that seem to defy conventional methods and principles. Many people are successful by doing all the right things at the right time in order to progress along familiar routes to gain the success that they desire. Others however, create a different path towards their success that challenges convention and often leaves people amazed and in awe of their achievement.

Usain Bolt has wowed the world in this year’s Olympics with his ‘lightning bolt’ speed in the 100m race and his less than conventional style in doing so. Having picked up a bit of a bad reputation for not taking his training seriously when he began to show his talent at the tender age of 15, Usain has since defied his trainers and Olympic members alike, by seemingly effortlessly winning 3 golds at Beijing. As he ran the last 20 metres of the 100m race, a crucial part where competitors are usually a blur of profiles crossing the line, Usain slowed his pace and even made time to turn and smile at the cameras before beating his chest in celebration. This will surely be a momentous picture of Olympic success and the question now is how fast will he go when he really puts his mind to it?

Michael Johnson is another world famous athlete whose story of success defies the conventional ‘rules’. Before he won 4 Olympic gold medals and was crowned world champion 9 times, it was strongly believed that a high knee lift was essential for maximum speed. Michael proved otherwise with his unique running style of an upright stance and very short steps and this opened new possibilities and an understanding that the road to success isn’t always how we expect it to be.

Moving away from the world of sport, there is evidence of unconventional success stories from all walks of life:

• In music the Spice Girls defied almost every rule in the book of pop with their fearsome attitudes, larger than life personalities and debatable lack of recognised musical talent and became one of the most successful girl groups of all time.
• In politics Margaret Thatcher became the first and only leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her tough-talking rhetoric and uncompromising approach to her position and responsibilities gained her the name of the ‘Iron Lady’ and her time in office was distinguished to say the least.

• If we look back in history there is a wealth of startling success stories where a distinct lack of convention is apparent. To name a few; Oliver Cromwell and his insistent defiance against having one head of state and strong belief in a democratic parliament that paved the road to where we are today, or Alexander the Great who went against all advice whilst on his crusades to hold back without sufficient support mechanisms, but who went on to become one of the most successful military leaders and conquerors of all time.

This list could go on for longer than can be written here and these examples may not appeal to us all even with their worldwide renown, but there must be some learning or insight that we can take away and perhaps be reassured and inspired by in our own quests for success however large or small.

To identify what this might be, it is up to the individual to take what appeals to them from each story. Is it drive, determination and ambition, personal style and preference, or an utter unwillingness to be dictated to by past behaviours and ideals? Whatever the case, it would seem that success can be reached and is often greater in size and affect when seized via unconventional methods and a desire to follow personal intuition.

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