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