Defining your version of success
As the days get longer, my thoughts turn to how I want to spend the rest of this year. I’m writing this three weeks into a nationwide lockdown. Just before the lockdown was announced, in those days where we knew something was about to change but didn’t quite know how it would impact our lives, I sat down and created a new vision board for the year.
I let myself choose what I was attracted to, without much of a plan. If you haven’t done a vision board before, it’s a great way to get those ideas flowing. The end result was very serene - full of greenery and the outdoors. My son described it as ‘eco’, and I suppose he’s right. Subconsciously, those things have been important to me already. What I didn’t expect, however, how this would really show as our whole world was turned upside down as a nation.
What was once an idea at the back of my mind, suddenly the greenery, time spent in nature, plants and gentle travel are at the forefront of my mind. Suddenly, the vision board takes on a whole new meaning, and I have a feeling I know why that is.
The whole world is on a collective pause - the daily life as we know it has largely disappeared, leaving us with time to reflect. It exposes what was important all along, and whilst we always knew, deep down, it’s only now that things are coming up to the surface to really be seen for what they are.
As we reevaluate how we live our lives, and as we begin to get clearer about the things that truly matter, we have the opportunity to reimagine our work, too. I’m not talking about the kind of reimagining that requires a complete pivot, or the kind where you only work two days a week, because that’s what your idea lifestyle would look like.
Of course - it’s possible to pivot, start new ventures, or work two days a week but it may take time for you to get there. It may take gentle changes and correcting the course to put you on the right path.
Your version of success
Now more than ever, we are being called to define what success really means to us. How do you want to be spending your days? What kind of work brings you joy? Running a business means that we have to wear multiple hats, and sometimes those hats don’t exactly bring us joy. Not every task is going to be super meaningful or enjoyable, but if we come at it from a place of wanting to design your work (and life), we are much more likely to look at the bigger picture. This in turn allows us to gain the perspective we need to work out what truly matters. It gives us the basis for a successful life and business, on our terms.
Journaling to find the answers
We all fall into the trap of following societal expectations, staying in jobs that are deemed successful by parents or friends, but which don’t bring us the fulfillment we crave. Perhaps you took the leap to run your business full time, and yet, your days are filled with doing ALL the things, and you’re left wondering whether this is just how it is. You’re left wondering whether, maybe, you had it all wrong, and work is meant to be tearing your hair out kind of hard. After all, that’s what your parents taught you. We’re all too familiar with the rhetoric that ‘if you want to be successful, you need to work hard’.
Except, it’s up to you to work this stuff out. It’s up to you to decide what success means to you, and whether ‘success’ is even an important factor when it comes to curating your life. This is where journaling can come in very handy. I’ve used journaling for some time now, as a way to process, and make sense of my thoughts in a way that thinking alone doesn't always bring the desired outcome.
Try your hand at freewriting (no pun intended), or seek out journaling prompts to kick things off if you’re feeling stuck. Try the prompts below to connect with your inner guide. Do the answers surprise you?
What are the non-negotiable elements of my work and/or life that I want to make room for?
What does my ideal day look like? How can I bring more of that into my day to day life?
If money was no object, what would my life look like?
Letting your values guide you
When we think about defining what success means to us, we often turn our attention to the practical, day to day stuff. This is something that’s perhaps easier to get to grips with - how our schedules will look, what kind of achievements we’d like to have next to our name.
Looking at our values allows us to dig a little deeper. They can be used as an overarching theme in your life, and in business. They can guide you when faced with a difficult decision. Our values are the foundation of our business, and they can dictate how you show up, and how you want your clients to feel when working with you.
Take a moment to think of three to four values that are important to you. What values would you want others to use when describing you? What values would you want to be known for? Keep them in mind when thinking about your own definition of success.
I’m curious - what does success mean to you and how will you bring more of that into your life?