Success: It’s Personal – Why Defining It For Yourself Matters

What is success?

This is a question that people have been asking themselves for centuries and the answer can vary greatly depending on who you ask. Society often defines success as wealth, power, and material possessions but this is just one of many different definitions. ?So, we have to get a little specific.

What does success look like for you?

Perhaps it’s graduating from university and landing your dream job? Or, more likely if you’re reading this article, you want to run a business working the hours you choose and earning the income you want to see!

Defining success for yourself is essential, as it can have a significant impact on your life, your choices, and your happiness. In this article, we’ll explore what success means and why defining it for yourself is so important.

Why defining what we mean by ‘success’ is important

Society often defines success in terms of wealth, power, and material possessions, such as the house they live in and the car they drive. However, this definition of success is limited, as it doesn’t account for individual differences in values and aspirations.

For others, it’s about how they feel – being happy and contented. Success can be linked to family, travel, business growth, or career development – in fact, anything you desire in life can form part of what makes you believe you are successful.

But the expectations of society can weigh heavy and while we may feel ‘personally’ successful, we don’t always feel that we are because we’re expected to follow a certain path, or achieve certain things such as a nice car and a big house with a white picket fence and double garage. Often, these expectations are unrealistic or cause us to settle for things that don’t make us happy.

It’s important to consider what success means for you. There are several reasons why defining success is important, as it can:

Help you to establish your priorities: When you have a clear understanding of what success means to you, you can avoid distractions and focus on what truly matters.

Provides motivation: When you have a clear definition of success, you can set goals and work towards achieving them. This can provide a sense of purpose and motivation, helping you to stay on track and make progress toward your goals.

Reduces stress and anxiety: When you define success for yourself, you are less likely to compare yourself to others or feel pressure to meet external standards of success. This can reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel more content and fulfilled in your life.

Defining success for yourself can have a significant impact on your life

As if being less stressed and anxious from comparing yourself to others wasn’t enough, there are some other benefits of understanding what success means to you.

Defining success for yourself requires introspection and self-reflection. This can help you better understand your own values, strengths, and weaknesses and help you to make better choices in your life. When you learn to be more self-reflective and develop those skills, you can use them in other areas of your life – such as with your work and finding ways to improve on what you do.

It’s easier to align your goals with your personal values and aspirations when you know what success means to you. This can give you a greater sense of purpose and direction in your life, along with increased satisfaction and happiness. You’re living life on your terms aligned with what you believe.

Defining success for yourself is essential for a happy and fulfilling life. While society may define success in limited terms, it is important to remember that success is personal and individual. When you take the time to define success for yourself, you can establish priorities, find motivation, reduce stress and anxiety, and enjoy the many benefits of a fulfilling life.

So, take some time to reflect on what success means to you and start taking action toward achieving it today.

This article was first published as a blog in March 2023 on www.banksbusinesssolutions.co.uk and has been updated and reproduced for LinkedIn.