Let me caution you first. This blog post is going to be more of rant than anything else. Mostly because I have been thinking about this a lot: What does success look like to me? It is a tough question.
A few years ago, if you asked me what I would need to achieve to consider myself successful, I could have answered right away. My life would look something like this: nationally recognized in the business community, making lots of money, traveling the world for business. I wanted a fast paced, exciting life. What was missing from the picture? All of the important things like family and friends.
While the jet setting business life style sounds exciting, I’m not sure it would have left me fulfilled. For one thing, a routine and downtime are crucial for me. It’s just not in my character to be going 24/7 and; in fact, I’m typically less productive when that happens.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want my future to look like, and I realized that somewhere along the way, in the past few months or even years, my definition of success changed. I have to admit, this realization scared me to the point that I can’t stop thinking about it.
To me success, very simply, means balance. I know this might be wishful thinking, but I will feel successful when I can run a business, spend time with friends and family and continue to do the things I love. I understand that this might mean that I may never be the richest, most successful or well-known, but I’m suddenly okay with that. All I can really do is try my best at each one of the things that are important to me, and not stress out too much when I feel like I am failing at one. It is always a shifting balance.
On one hand this balanced lifestyle feels like it will make me the happiest, but on the other I worry I may be filled with regret later in life. I’m always asking myself, am I going to regret that I didn’t spend more, or all, of my time trying to get to the top? But along with all this worry inside my head that is screaming to be heard, there’s another smaller voice deep inside my gut that simply says no, I won’t have regret. I feel as though it’s this voice that’s truly leading me to fulfillment. I just have to go with my gut.
We are so on the same wave length! I’ve been having very similar thoughts recently – what does MY success look like? How do I work to make that success happen? And what does it mean that my definition of success has changed.
It’s all very interesting to think about, even if it sends me into a panic sometimes. I think you’ve got it figured out for you, and that’s an awesome thing! You’ll never have regret if you truly go with your gut 🙂