What does success look like to you?

KiLo·Apr 15, 2021

When I was in high school, I was in a program called Project Success and one of the questions they asked us repeatedly was, "What does success look like to you?" My first thought was, "To achieve something. Duh." I was defining success by its definition. I used to think success means 1) it needs to be great and 2) it needs to be in the future and 3) it needs to be related to money or effort. It's safe to say I was very narrow-minded.So when I heard the people in my class associate success with something as mundane as passing a test, or having a happy family, I was very surprised.I have come to learn that success means very different things to different people. My definition of success has changed over time, but to the me today, success means making enough money to allow me to live comfortably and having the freedom to travel, but at the end of the day I have a home to come to where I'm surrounded by my friends and family. Home to me is a place where I belong, not necessarily a house to live.What does success mean to you?

Monisha·Apr 16, 2021

@KiLoIt has changed over time for me as well..Success is very simple to me – I set up a goal, plan the steps required to achieve it, and then I implement that plan effectively. I attain success once I achieve my goals.

JenYi·Apr 16, 2021

I'm in my 40s now. I grew up with little money so success, to me, was mostly financial. I spent years developing a very successful career with a high six-figure income. I could casually purchase luxury goods, and take lovely trips every year. I now make very little money, and I feel far more fulfilled in my life. When I left my job of 14 years, I thought I was taking "friendships" with me. However, many of those fizzled within the first year of my leaving and I realized what a shaky foundation they had all been built on. I, fortunately, have always maintained a very close group of 4-5 friends, plus I'm very close with my family - we all live within 20 miles of each other. I've found that building a foundation of close, supportive people that truly love you is incredible wealth, and harder to find than we realize. I also love the outdoors so I always have something to do that doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money to enjoy. I don't miss luxury goods at all but I do miss eating out as often as I used to, trying new restaurants out. Still, it doesn't interfere with my happiness; I just miss it sometimes. Finally, I have a relationship that I have prioritized enough in my life that we will celebrate 15 years together this year. That gives me happiness and joy. You can build a lot on top of a foundation like this. My start-up has been a heck of a journey - hard, isolating, lonely, and did I say hard?! My foundation of people has made the difference. I now say that is success.