What Does Success Mean to You?

I’ve thought a lot about this question since starting my coaching journey.  I must admit, for the longest time, success for me was largely defined by my professional accomplishments.  I felt valued when I had reached a certain level in an organization, attained an enviable job title, exceeded stated goals, and was recognized and rewarded for my accomplishments with promotions, top performance ratings and pay.

This isn’t to say I am not grateful for all in my personal life – my husband, family, friends, health, home and community, but I never really ever thought of those aspects of my life as measures of success but rather blessings.  

It actually wasn’t until I began my journey toward becoming a Certified Professional Coach, one that required intense internal reflection, did I come to realize that many of my measures of success were actually externally driven and determined by someone other than myself, a harsh realization that didn’t feel at all empowering.

Then, I came upon this quote,

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer

In that moment, I chose to redefine how I thought about success in this next phase of my life and career.  I was determined to change how I viewed success, measuring it not by achievement but rather alignment with my purpose and core values, my passions, my joy and happiness.

For me, success in this next phase means: time spent with loved ones; doing work I am passionate about; making a difference in others’ lives; showing up in the world as my true authentic self; openly sharing my thoughts, experiences and insights in a transparent and vulnerable way; trusting and believing in myself; being willing to take risks; following my heart and allowing my intuition to be my guide. 

What does success mean to you? When have you experienced success? What does it look like?  How does it feel? How aligned is your vision of success to your core values?

If these questions cause you to pause, connect with me for a complimentary coaching session to embark on your personal and professional journey of self-discovery as you tap into your internal life compass and define your life success measures.