In any endeavor, the definition of success is determined by what is valued as important. Making the best chocolate chip cookies in the world is a failure if you're playing a basketball game.
That is why worldly people don't understand Christians at all. Their definition of what a successful life consists of are dependent on worldly conditions, which are directly opposed to the conditions of a successful Christian life.
Helping people may be success to a christian, but it sure costs time, effort and money without getting anything in return. That's a failure if your definition of success is making money and being famous.