Have You Ever Wondered How People Define Success?

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Have You Ever Wondered How People Define Success?

Success seemed really simple in elementary school. You get an A on your math test—success! You win a game of foursquare—success! You play a solo in your band concert and don’t miss a note—success!

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Adult life is much more complex than acing a spelling test every Friday. As a result, each person’s definition of success is unique.

I wanted to know how others define success so I turned to my peer groups on LInkedIN and asked them just that. I started by sharing my definition of success in order to open up the dialogue.

What was the result? I learned that many of us hold similar ideas about success. In fact, I noticed four trends in people’s definitions of success: relationships, purpose, contentment, and the importance of striving for goals. Take a look at the wonderful responses below, and you will see what I mean.

What is Your Definition of Success?

1. Success is About Relationships

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2. Success is Finding Peace and Contentment in Life

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3. Success Starts With Identifying Your Purpose

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4. Success is a Process, Not a Specific Goal

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Let’s continue the dialogue.

As I mentioned in my interview with Cornell University, success to me is working with fully engaged clients, giving back to my community in the form of teaching and mentorship, and living my purpose. But what about you? How do you define success? I’d love to know. Continue the conversation in the comment section below, send me an email, or find me on Twitter.

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2 Comments

  1. Tom Eakin
    November 14, 2014

    Success is getting what you want. Values-Driven Success is getting what you want and being the person you want to be. Hard lessons learned to find the distinction.

    Reply
    • Loehr
      November 17, 2014

      You’re absolutely right! For example, Mary may value being a supportive and nurturing parent. She may also value creativity. If Mary wants her child to be creative (her goal), but she makes that happen by forcing her sporty child into every after-school art program she can find, she may end up with a creative child, but she didn’t succeed in that goal by being who she wants to be. If she instead took on a supportive role wherein she models creativity herself by employing an open, free-thinking, flexible attitude–she can also succeed in having a creative child. But with that route, Mary is also being the person she wants to be.

      Reply

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