I started becoming successful (career-wise) when I cut out all the toxic people in my life and started living my own life. I was the family black sheep at 18 after dropping out of university because I was stuck in a degree I didn't want to do, in a field I had little interest in, all because it was prestigious and would impress my family. Basically, I was too much of a people pleaser and lost my way.
They told me I would never amount to anything and basically disowned me; however, I started a company after teaching myself new skills, and the company had financial success, but it came at a huge cost to me because I worked too hard (18 hour days for 6 years).
I think if we focus hard on our goal and ask ourselves each day "does this thing i'm doing contribute to my goals", along with being discerning about where we invest our energy, we can be successful.
I think we have to find more balance though because this single target focus can be detrimental. My hunger for "success" blindsided me to other things going wrong in my life and it wasn't until I got very sick that I stopped to smell the roses.
Now, I am finding some success in my life in various ways, but it's way more balanced. Slower and more sustainable.