At the end of your life, what would count as a successful career?

I was reminded of this question I asked myself 2 years ago when I read a study the other day that said, “As we get older we wished society cared less about success – with 39% of people aged over 45 feeling it should be less important, compared to only 25% of people aged 18-24.”

Do we truly believe success is less important as we get older? I would argue that we simply redefine it and this is validated by the fact that over a quarter (29%) of people in the UK think that traditional perceptions of success are outdated.

We get exposed to a specific version of success from a young age. A good degree, which leads to a good job, a good partner, a nice home and car, a few kids and well, you know the rest. Or may-be we don’t? It kind of stops right there. Because according to the myth all of that should lead to happiness, success and fulfilment. But as we know from personal, collective and global experience it does not.

The reason why I like looking at things through the lens of the end of your life is that it puts everything into perspective. Ask yourself these questions…

At the end of your life what will have been more important?

1. Getting a promotion or more time for a hobby?
2. Traveling with work or traveling with friends?
3. Making 100k doing something you hate or 60k doing what you love?
4. Working for a company or working for yourself?

There’s no right answers to the above. Chances are how you felt inside when looking at them are a good indication as to what you’re really looking for. The point is that when you look at things this way and better understand your priorities, you are empowered to make the changes now. The challenge is we are not deeply aware of what we truly want. Because of that, we get distracted by what everyone else is doing and soon our version of success isn’t even ours anymore. It’s a mix of the different people we know. 76% of us admit success means different things to different people, but have you stopped to define it for yourself?

2 years-ago I had a very successful corporate career ahead of me. I was well-known and networked within the industry and had several opportunities and options. Things couldn’t have been better really. But I had a feeling that I wanted to offer more to the world. I felt that I wasn’t making the most of my potential and that I might be able to make a bigger impact if I tried to. I was redefining success. I wanted to do what I loved every single day and make a difference by doing it. At the time I also developed the common cold, “excusitis.” I thought to myself, “what will people say”, “what if it doesn’t work?”, “am I being unrealistic?” Then I asked myself this question, “at the end of your life, what would count as a successful career?” My answer was akin to the title of 50 Cent’s Debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’”, except the rich was substituted for love. I would rather have tried and failed, then never have tried at all. At least I’d be able to say, I lived, I tried, I learnt. Rather than I think it could have happened if I tried.

So that’s what success is to me. Wanting to make a positive difference in the world with what I’ve been given. Experimenting and trying anything possible to make that happen. I highly recommend redefining success for yourself today because it means you won’t ever have to deal with regret later. It will help you make better choices and decisions about work, business and friendship.