| Why is this question important? | | | | purpose and the discipline to stay true to |
| | | | your values in the long run. |
| One of the most important career and | | | | |
| life-planning activities you can engage in is | | | | Accept There Are Always Alternatives. The |
| finding your own definitions or models of | | | | very fact that so many of us have not |
| success. This is vitally important for a | | | | questioned the paths we are on speaks to a |
| number of reasons: If you haven't done this, | | | | lack of awareness or acceptance of alternate |
| how do you know what's best for you? How can | | | | paths. There have never been more options or |
| you make career decisions if you aren't | | | | valid ways of defining career and life |
| crystal clear about how you define success? | | | | success. |
| How can you be happy if you don't know when | | | | |
| you're successful? | | | | Examine Your Path. Do you love what you do? |
| | | | Do you do fantastic work as a result? Does |
| If this question is relevant to you right | | | | your work complement your personal and family |
| now... | | | | life or detract from it? Are you excited |
| | | | about your vision of the future? Is this your |
| There is never a bad time to discover and be | | | | best use of your precious gifts and time? |
| clear on your definition of success. Today's | | | | |
| economic realities make the timing even | | | | Create Some Quiet, Introspective Time. Ask |
| better. If your career hasn't gone according | | | | yourself these questions: |
| to plan, or even if it has, reexamine what it | | | | |
| is you actually want. Doing so can make you a | | | | What makes me happy? How do I feel? What do I |
| lot happier. | | | | want? And then, answer a question from the |
| | | | coaching school CoachVille.com, "I know how |
| Successful -- on Whose Terms? | | | | successful I am by how (fill in the blank)." |
| | | | The answers to this question will point you |
| If you haven't taken the time to define it, | | | | in the right direction. You can have several |
| success has already been defined for you. | | | | definitions of success as long as they don't |
| You're already following models of career and | | | | contradict each other. |
| life success. The question is whether they | | | | |
| are your own, or ones you inherited. One of | | | | Refine Your Responses. Ask yourself "why?" |
| your greatest career challenges is | | | | and "is that what I really want?" after each |
| identifying goals and definitions of success | | | | response to the statement until each rings |
| that are true to you rather than ones you | | | | true. For example, if your first response |
| inherited from family, society and other | | | | was, "I'll know I am successful when I am a |
| outside forces. Your current model of success | | | | millionaire," ask yourself why you want to be |
| may or may not work for you. The important | | | | a millionaire. You might, for example, find |
| thing is understanding your assumptions and | | | | out that success for you is to have the |
| questioning them. | | | | freedom to use your time as you wish, or the |
| | | | ability to travel or be rid of financial |
| If you follow a path to success that isn't | | | | worries. This process may lead you to make |
| your own, you may achieve your goals, but | | | | other decisions in your life that will help |
| when you arrive at your destination, you may | | | | you reach your goal. |
| not feel successful or fulfilled at all. | | | | |
| | | | Test Your Responses with People Who Know You |
| Keep in mind that your existing job may hold | | | | Really Well. Do they ring true? |
| the key to your happiness. For example, if | | | | |
| you were to discover that making your | | | | One definition of success that puts this |
| customers happy was the one thing that | | | | philosophy into simple words comes from |
| defines and inspires you, what would that do | | | | American author Christopher Morley, who |
| to your focus and state of mind? | | | | wrote: |
| | | | |
| Choose Your Own Definition of Success | | | | "There is only one success -- to be able to |
| | | | spend your life in your own way." |
| You have the power to reaffirm existing | | | | |
| models or adopt new models of success. All it | | | | Being clear about how you define success will |
| takes is some honest thinking, clarity of | | | | reap immeasurable rewards. |