6 Steps To Developing Your Definition Of Success.
Do you have your definition of success? Most people are trying to live up to society’s definition of success without considering whether this is the best option for them. Imagine going through life and using someone else’s measuring stick to determine how well you are doing. If that’s how you have been approaching life, then I want you to hear me…. STOP IT!
You deserve better than that. You can define success on your terms, according to your values and not anyone else’s. It’s just too daunting to live by someone else’s definition of success.
For instance, ask others what success means, and you’re likely to hear a variation of these answers:
Fancy car or two – Mercedes, BMW, Lexus
Nice house – Big, with a swimming pool, in a gated community
Respectable corporate job – something worthy of bragging about
Attractive spouse
Those things are fine if they align with your values and represent what you want to accomplish in your life. But, if you take the time to think about it, your definition of success might be:
Single,
Traveling the world,
Running my own business from a laptop,
Having adventures each day, and
Wearing flip-flops for at least eight hours each day.
A person with this definition of success would be miserable in the first scenario.
Using someone else’s success blueprint will have you working towards goals that don't appeal to you in the end.
BUT what kind of coach would I be if I didn’t have a plan to help you break free and define success on your terms?
So, buckle up, and let’s get to work.
Ask yourself these questions:
What legacy do I want to leave for my children and the world? What do you want to look back upon at the end of your life and be known for? Is it wealth and a vast business empire? Do you want to leave a string of good works? Do you want to look back on a life full of adventures? How would you have wanted to spend your time? What financial resources do you want to leave behind?
What are my values? A lifetime spent living your values will be fulfilling. Most people have a vague notion of what’s important to them, but few take the time to think about it carefully. Pull out a piece of paper and make a list of your values.
What do I want to do? Make a list of all the things you want to see and do. Write down everything, from skydiving, to walking on the Great Wall of China.
What type of life do I want to experience? You might desire a conventional marriage and six children with a white picket fence in the suburbs. Or you might like to live in a Manhattan condo by yourself and take full advantage of the nightlife for the first 20 years of adulthood.
What will it take for me to feel successful? Imagine various scenarios and determine what would make you feel successful. Is it living in a cabin in the woods with few responsibilities, or living in a 15,000-square-foot penthouse? Imagine various careers and lifestyles. Which one feels like success to you?
What if no one else would ever know? The idea of owning a Ferrari might feel like a success, but what if no one ever knew you owned it? Would you still feel successful? An ideal version of success wouldn’t involve the opinions of others.
Search for a version of success that’s meaningful to you, even if others are unaware of your possessions and accomplishments.
In summary, there is no universal definition of success. It’s important not to fall into the trap of trying to impress your friends and family. Develop a version of success that is meaningful for you, regardless of society’s values. You might find that your version of success is much more enjoyable and easier to attain.
Need help nailing down your success profile? That’s okay! Coaching can help. Take the coachability quiz to see if you are a perfect candidate to be coached.
