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What is success?
The dictionary definition is “the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted”. But what that does not say is if what is achieved will bring you happiness.
Because that’s what we all want right, to be happy and for our families to be happy.
Society programmes us to think of success as being about how much money you make, the fancy university you attended, your important-sounding corporate title, how many Instagram likes and followers you have or how much power you wield. It also pushes us to want more things, like bigger houses, flash cars, the latest fashion and holidays in exotic destinations, but do those things alone bring happiness?
So let's put money, power, popularity and prestige aside for a moment. When you stop thinking about success in financial terms, it opens up a whole world of possibilities. It allows you to focus on what matters to you.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
It's important to know your definition of success because it will be the driving force throughout your career change journey and it will be how you measure if you have achieved all you set out to do. If you don’t know what success means to you, you could be aiming for the wrong thing. So many people go through their lives career-hopping or soul-searching because they are chasing an idea of success that is not their own. If you don't take the time to sit down and figure out what success means to you, you could end up aiming for the wrong thing and feeling disappointed when you don't achieve it.
HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?
When thinking about your definition of success, it might be hard to know where to start. Is it for you to move to the next stage in your career, or is it the move itself? Is it to be happy with your new job/life? Is it to make money, or is it to fulfil that purpose in your life, to make a positive difference?
Before you move forward with your plans, take some time, go to a quiet place where you can think and which inspires you, maybe a walk in nature or along a beach or a hike up a hill, or even take a train journey, wherever you can let your mind wander free. And ask yourself this question: "What do I REALLY want in life? Putting aside expectations, what society has programmed into you and what you've done in the past, what you thought you would do in the future. Clear your mind of all preconceptions and expectations, and think about what you care about. If you focus just on what you could earn in your new career it will not create a strong motivation, unless money is your main motivator. But what if you only think about what that money could bring you. Not in material things but in the ability to work on what you love, have more time with your children and family, help others, or make a real difference in the world.
Do you regret anything that you have not done in your life? What have you promised yourself you would do in the future but have out off until ‘later’?
Write down everything that comes to mind, even if it is not what society would think of as success, there is no right or wrong. Whatever would bring you joy and happiness to achieve.
MEASURING YOUR SUCCESS
When you know what looks like success to you, it is important to use it as a marker or signpost to help you measure your progress whilst you are on your career change journey. Having a clear understanding of what success means to you will help keep you motivated and focused when times are tough or you feel like you are not making any progress.
Think of it this way, in the corporate world, when you set a goal or start a new project you have a clear idea of what it is that you are trying to achieve. But when it comes to your new career, it’s not so clear-cut. It’s not enough to just set a goal and know that you will achieve it. It’s not enough to just know what you are going to achieve. You need to know how you will know when you have succeeded. This is where the real challenge comes in.
So think about it as you would the annual performance management goals you would have set in your corporate job. You have a goal and would have key performance indicators or KPIs to know if you have reached that goal or not. So what are your KPIs for your career change goal? How will you know if you've been successful?
If you would like to dive into finding out what success means for you a bit deeper, you can find more details and exercises in Episode 6: 6 Tips for Creating Your Career Success Vision.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS...
Your definition of success matters because it is what will keep you motivated on your career change journey. If you are constantly chasing a goal that isn't truly aligned with what you value, you will never feel satisfied.
So take the time to figure out what success means to you and use that as your north star. With a clear destination in mind, you'll be much more likely to find fulfilment and happiness in your new career and life.
