REDEFINING SUCCESS

Is your definition of success holding you back?

Have you ever paused to question how you define success? I recently heard an incredible comment from Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open Champion, that stopped me in my tracks.?

Her insight didn’t just inspire me—it caused me to re-examine how I define success.

She said something like this (I’m paraphrasing a bit):

" When I finally let go of thinking that the win would define me—that I needed it to become successful—that’s when I was free. Free to be who I am, free to play at my best, and free to actually enjoy the game. I rediscovered the joy in playing and found success when I stopped needing the win to feel successful."

Take a second to absorb that.

Madison was putting so much pressure on herself to achieve her goal that she was actually holding herself back from it.?

When she redefined success—not as a title or an outcome, but as being authentically her—the win followed naturally.

That got me wondering…do you need to hit pause and rethink what success means to you? That's exactly what we're exploring in this week's SWAGGER Sense.

The Invisible Weight of Expectations?

Madison’s revelation struck a chord because it’s something so many of us do—we attach our entire sense of worth to an outcome.?

We tell ourselves we’ll be real leaders, real winners, or even real people only when we hit that salary, title, or benchmark.

But what if that very mindset is limiting us from truly succeeding?

For instance, I once worked with a leader who had a crystal-clear vision of success—complete with a dream title and an enviable salary. He thought he’d finally “make it” once he checked those boxes.

But something magical happened when he shifted his focus. Instead of chasing his own success, he started helping others achieve theirs. He mentored, inspired, and motivated his team to surpass their own expectations.

That’s when his leadership truly blossomed—and, as it turned out, so did his career. His initial dream was realized, but not by clinging to it.?

Success came as a byproduct of serving others.

A Personal Shift in Perspective

All of this has given me so much to think about as well.

For most of my life, especially after facing financial ruin early in my adult life, I’ve held onto a vision of success that revolved around numbers.?

I thought, “Once I hit that income, I’ll be successful.” But if I’m being honest? That mindset has brought me less joy and more stress than I’d like to admit.

Inspired by people like Madison and that amazing leader I mentioned, I’m letting go of the pressure I’ve put on myself.

From now on, my vision of success is this: positively impacting one million people around the world.?

I know—it’s just a tiny fraction of the population. It’s not going to change the world overnight. But it’s a start.?

Knowing that I’m helping someone out there, even just one person, makes me feel like I’m succeeding already.

What About You??

Now I want to hear from you. How do you define success? Could that definition use a little editing?

Here’s the least you can take away from all this—success isn’t a title. It’s not a number in the bank or a bullet point on your resume.?

Success is feeling fulfilled in what you’re doing and being proud of who you are while you do it.

If this message resonated with you, think about someone else who might need this reminder today. Will you help me reach my million-person goal by sharing it??

Together, we can redefine success and achieve more than we thought possible.

Jennifer

P.S.?

I’d love to hear how you plan to shake up your idea of success. Share your thoughts in a comment—I can’t wait to read them!?