It seems to me that success in this life requires, first, that we recognize success when we see it, and to achieve it, we get and keep our priorities straight.
We don’t achieve success through careers, education, possessions, accolades, or things we accumulate.
We do achieve success through our relentless, untiring, consistent pursuit of God.
Success comes from going where God leads, not expecting Him to keep up with us–and bail us out when our plan fails. Again.
Success, then, is getting as close to Him through prayerful pursuit of His will for us by immersing ourselves in His word and (here it comes) submitting ourselves to what we learn as we discover it. There is no end to the process on this side of the grave. But, this path is truly the only path to success: Eternal success as a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords.