This is an interesting question. Having worked with hundreds of businesses one of the things I have noticed is that success means different things to different people. For some it may be cash flow and profit. For others, top line growth. For even others it is freedom to do the things you want to do. In other words, the business is a vehicle for other goals or a lifestyle. 

Regardless, the ones who are consistently successful have two things in common. The first is they have a clear idea or vision they want to attain and have a way to measure their progress.

The other is a clear set of Core Values that everyone in the organization knows and respects. This is not as easy as it sounds, but have have a huge impact on overcoming other deficiencies in the business.