I agree with Erica. It all depends on how you define success. Is your goal to create work that others enjoy? Is it to spread knowledge and help others learn? Is it earning enough to sustain a living? Is it reaching 'x' followers on social media or invitations for media interviews and features? Each of those questions is tailored to different definitions of success (pleasure and creation, service, profession and fame).
For me, calligraphy is a hobby. I don't care about making money from it (although it's nice when it happens!) or how many people like my work. That said, I strive for my work to be pleasing of course...and when I achieve that, I consider my efforts a success. That said, even if people do not like it, if I learned from the process, I still consider the piece valuable and worth the effort.
