| When you think of "success" what comes to mind? | | | | -Sending your kids to college. |
| Maybe you think of a business owner with a wife, | | | | -Serving your country. |
| two kids, a dog, and a white picket fence | | | | -Staying sober. |
| surrounding a big suburban house? Maybe you think | | | | -Traveling the world. |
| of a single, up-and-comer businesswoman with a | | | | -Helping the less fortunate. |
| fancy apartment in the city and a closet full of | | | | -Running a marathon. |
| designer clothes? | | | | -Buying a sports car. |
| In reality, "success" is what makes you happy, not | | | | -Skydiving to conquer your fear of heights. |
| what makes society happy. Perhaps the two | | | | If you haven't determined what success means to |
| individuals in the examples above are successful-but | | | | you, you might feel lost. You might wonder what |
| only if they're happy. | | | | your purpose is in life. You might try to figure out in |
| People view success very differently. Let's say two | | | | which direction you should go. |
| women both in their early thirties have comparable | | | | So, how do you determine what success means to |
| account manager positions in an advertising agency. | | | | you? Try this simple approach: |
| One, named Kristy just returned from maternity | | | | 1.Take time. Take some time and really think about |
| leave, and the other Lynne has no children and is | | | | what makes you happy. |
| focusing on her career. | | | | 2.Make a list. List what you need to do to achieve |
| Kristy is very content because she is able to put in | | | | this happiness. |
| her eight hours a day and then go home to her baby. | | | | 3.Break it down. Break down the steps into |
| She likes her job, but she is working just to collect a | | | | achievable tasks, so you can actually see the |
| paycheck. She isn't looking to advance her career. | | | | progress you are making. |
| Lynne is very ambitious and has many professional | | | | 4.Evaluate your progress. Success doesn't happen |
| goals. She's working overtime and taking on extra | | | | overnight. Keep close tabs on your tasks and make |
| projects to prove herself to management. She's | | | | sure that you are not only following through with |
| often praised for her determination and good work | | | | them, but that they still support your goal of |
| ethic. | | | | happiness. |
| When comparing the two employees side-by-side, | | | | 5.Reward yourself. Reward yourself for progress and |
| Lynne "appears" to be the more successful employee | | | | completion of a job well done! |
| because Kristy does only what is required of her to | | | | When you know what success means to you, you |
| get the job done and Lynne goes above and beyond. | | | | will feel purposeful, fulfilled, and content. You won't |
| However, in actuality both employees feel that | | | | worry about keeping up with other people or trying |
| they're successful in their own minds. | | | | to live by their standards. You should also respect |
| What does success mean to you? Maybe it means: | | | | other people's definitions of success. So, do what |
| -Raising a family. | | | | makes you happy and you can say "Yes, I am |
| -Spreading the word of God. | | | | successful! |
| -Climbing the corporate ladder. | | | | |