Once, a group of young students approached their teacher and asked him what the secret to success was. The teacher replied by asking them to follow him to a nearby river. Once arrived the teacher told the students to pick up a stone, hold it above their heads and walk upstream against the current. After several minutes of struggling, the teacher told the students to release the stones and walk back downstream. The teacher then said, “Success is like this river. When you hold onto things that weigh you down, it’s hard to move forward.”
What remains when you let go is your definition of success.
What does success even mean?
This can vary greatly depending on individual perspectives and values. It can also be seen in various aspects of life, such as personal, professional, financial, and relational.
It can involve the attainment of wealth, status, recognition, happiness, fulfillment, or a sense of purpose.
Success is objective and unique to each person. It is up to you to determine what you consider to be a successful outcome.
So, what does success mean to you?
Here are some steps you can take to help clarify your own definition of success:
Download Roadmap
Here are some steps you can take to help clarify your own definition of success:
- Reflect on your values: Consider what is most important to you in life. What are your core beliefs, passions, and priorities? Your definition of success should align with these values.
- Identify your goals: Think about what you want to achieve in life, both in the short-term and long-term. These goals can relate to different aspects of your life, such as career, relationships, health, or personal growth.
- Consider the bigger picture: Think about how you want to be remembered or what kind of impact you want to have on the world. This can help you identify a sense of purpose or mission that can guide your definition of success.
- Stay open to change: Your definition of success may evolve over time as your priorities and circumstances change. Be willing to adapt and adjust your definition as needed.
- Avoid comparison: Remember that success is a highly individualized concept. Avoid comparing yourself to others or feeling pressure to conform to societal norms or expectations. Focus on what is meaningful and fulfilling for you personally.
By following these steps, you can develop a clearer understanding of what success means to you and create a roadmap for achieving it.
We did make you a template of a roadmap, that you can download here.
