When critiquing someone's success, we must always consider the aim and the action.
If someone achieves an aim, they have, in one sense of the word succeeded. But if that aim was ignoble, they have only succeeded at failure.
If someone aims nobly and fails miserably short, in one sense of the word, they failed. But if they acted nobly, they have failed while succeeding.
If someone aims low and still fail, they have in every sense of the word failed. They have succeeded at missing the mark entirely.
If a man desires to leave a singles bar in the company of another and strikes out. His aim was lame and his actions matched. He has failed and we're all the better off for it. This man should not be given better skills or shinier lures to pick up ladies. His aim is lame. Don't give him a crutch or even worse, teach him to strut.
If a man desires to marry a young lady and be a good husband, but no one is interested, his aim is high, but his actions are insufficient. His goal is noble, but his competency is questionable. This man should be given help, skills, knowledge, encouragement, etc... in order to assist him in accomplishing his noble task. Give him the wisdom he needs, the standards he should keep and the ones he should reconsider in order to more reasonably achieve his intended aim.
This, of course, can be applied to any number of targets and trajectories. It is important when thinking over someone's success to consider that accomplishing ignoble ends is not success and employing ignoble means in order to achieve noble ends is also a failure. There are not shortcuts to integrity. Conversely, there is no glory in accomplishing wickedness.
One could be said to be "good" at something bad. Like being a "successful" pick up artist. One could be said to be "bad" at something good. Like making disciples.
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