What Does Success Look Like to You?

Is it money? Having your parents be proud of you. Or something like making it through the day. Whatever the definition of success for you is, do you think you ever arrive at that destination? Success shouldn’t be something that someone else determines or defines for you. Being able to afford a home and paying your bills seems like success. But that’s up to you to decide. Is being happy, success? For someone that’s unhappy, being happy seems like success to me. It wasn’t until I was standing in front of a classroom full of students that it occurred to me that success is something that’s passed along generationally. At least the definition is. That could be to the detriment of children trying to live up to someone else’s expectations of success. The pressure, mental anguish, and overwhelming disappointment is unimaginable when in fact others would consider them a success. That’s why getting out of the shadows of other’s success and into the light of your own is paramount. Until you realize that success is a very personal thing, you live under someone else’s definition and are stuck there trying to please them and sapping the joy out of your own life. So, have you found your success or are you still searching for it? What’s your definition? Take a moment to search your soul and ask yourself what success means to you. Maybe you’ve never known what it is. You may even have been successful all along and didn’t realize it.

Goal Setting

Set a goal. Accomplish something small to start with and set yourself up for success. By having smaller successes things can add up and that could mean a bigger success for you. What’s the feeling you want when you achieve success? I think a lot of people achieve what they consider success and never think of what’s next. Once you arrive is that it? Not only should you feel a certain way, but you should also celebrate getting there. That’s not the end of the road. Success may not equal happiness and that’s hard to swallow. Certainly, if success is money, happiness can’t be bought. That’s where living under someone else’s definition may catch up to you and bite you in the behind and say, “okay Mr. or Ms. Successful what’s next?” Not being successful doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it just means you haven’t fulfilled your definition of success.

Having a Drive to Accomplish the Things You Want To

A drive has nothing to do with a car and is not done only on Sundays. Personal drive is the intense desire to achieve success or goals on the way to success. It’s also the focus on achieving specific things while disregarding other things that don’t move the needle; meaning you have intense focus.

Define Your Own Success

Remain humble in your pursuit of success. It’s a hard road. I met one of the richest men once that had a heart of gold and very few possessions. He conquered homelessness and substance abuse and brought light into the world that gave joy to those around him. He was a success in my eyes. Find your why and purpose and go out into the world and be your own success!