Success is the ongoing process of becoming your best self.
- Sally Hogshead, www.radicalcareering.com
The best way is to read Sally's little red book (available in bookstores). It will open your eyes to your true potential.
I believe you're successful in your career if:
1. you've found your talent or unique capability
2. you feel alive and passionate in what you do
3. your work or community involvement makes a difference and you feel you contribute to building a better world
4. you earn a fair financial reward for your work
#1 and #2 have to do with you, as a person. It's not about any path out there in the world. This is where self-knowledge counts a great deal (What Color is Your Parachute is a great book to explore your true strengths, skills, talents, predispositions, etc.).
#3 and #4 have to do with what people call a "career path," since that's where you find opportunities, in the real world, to contribute in a field or function or industry that you consider to be important. That's also where you actually provide real econonomic value to a company, so they agree to pay you a fair financial compensation.
Good luck!