Great replies by all.

In my opinion, in addition to what has already been said, success could be seen as a multi-steps process. To the bare eye, it might be a failure for a seed to get burried in the ground and disappear forever but this temporary disappearance becomes a tall, green tree in a few years' time. Likewise, sometimes one or two generations of a family suffer and seem to be a failure when their sons and daughters accomplish and achieve bigger and better things.

If the seed of effort has been sown in the right grounds, the fruits of success shall bear one day!