Pretty much everyone wants to be successful. Everybody
thinks about success, and most desire it. Some people talk
about it, others read about or study it, and a few serious
folk hire coaches to help them achieve it. But very few
take time to actually define or clarify exactly what
they're after.
There's an old saying that, "You can't hit a target you
can't see." If you don't know exactly what your success
looks like, how will you know when you've achieved it? Some
people, who are seen as extremely accomplished and
successful by their friends and family, nevertheless spend
their whole lives striving for just a bit more, always
fearing they don't have "enough."
As you begin the thoughtful process of setting your goals,
plans and budgets for 2015, I'd like to suggest a couple
ideas that may prove useful.
First, and most important, is that as an over-all concept,
"success" hardly exists. We've all heard the tragic tales of
someone who became rich, but died alone and unloved--
Howard Hughes comes to mind. Or, how about a famous
entertainer (or politician, entrepreneur, whatever) who is
adored by the whole world, but dies of addiction or suicide
or foolish behavior? Marilyn Monroe comes to mind.
I cannot in good conscience consider them as having been
"successful" in an over-all sense.
Success is always about something specific. That bears
repeating and emphasizing: Success is always about some
specific, defined objective.
Most can (and have) achieved success in dozens of specific
ways. Millions of people have successfully lost five
pounds. Maybe you've mastered a new language, written a
book, hit your sales goals for the year, or purchased a new
house. All of these are "success," clearly defined!
As you ponder your goals and objectives for 2015, I
encourage you to define what success looks like in terms
of:
Your health
Your finances
Your career
Your relationships
Your spirituality
You hobbies and personal development
You may have other areas that are important to you. But in
every area, the categories and specific outcomes that you
choose will define your success far more than any temporary
feelings or the brief applause of the crowd.
Please consider the categories in which you desire success,
and then define specific outcomes or "finish lines" for
each category. It's much easier to achieve success by
saving 10% of your income during 2015, than to "get rich"
next year. Most people in good health can achieve the goal
of doing 100 sit-ups, but vague, generic goals of "being
physically fit" are more elusive. Be specific!
Second, success is about things that are important to you.
We all have talents or abilities that are unique and might
even amaze our friends--but they don't impress us or give
us pride because we take them for granted. They aren't
particularly important to us.
Success is achieved by accomplishing things that matter.
Being able to juggle may be a fun party trick, but if it
isn't important to me, my "success" won't be measured by my
juggling skills.
Choose categories that matter to you!
Success is about specific, measurable progress in areas
that you value. Becoming a measurably more patient,
thoughtful and effective parent might be a success that
changes your family forever, while becoming a better
juggler would make no difference at all. Learning new
skills to advance your career might make a huge difference
in income, recognition, new opportunities, or in a hundred
other ways, while one particular promotion may, or may not,
make much difference in the long-run.
Success is a very personal thing. It's about the
achievement of specific, tangible goals in a reasonable
amount of time, in areas that actually matter to you.
Choose your categories, then set specific "finish lines"
with care and thought. This is your life! And here's to
your extraordinary success in 2015!
thinks about success, and most desire it. Some people talk
about it, others read about or study it, and a few serious
folk hire coaches to help them achieve it. But very few
take time to actually define or clarify exactly what
they're after.
There's an old saying that, "You can't hit a target you
can't see." If you don't know exactly what your success
looks like, how will you know when you've achieved it? Some
people, who are seen as extremely accomplished and
successful by their friends and family, nevertheless spend
their whole lives striving for just a bit more, always
fearing they don't have "enough."
As you begin the thoughtful process of setting your goals,
plans and budgets for 2015, I'd like to suggest a couple
ideas that may prove useful.
First, and most important, is that as an over-all concept,
"success" hardly exists. We've all heard the tragic tales of
someone who became rich, but died alone and unloved--
Howard Hughes comes to mind. Or, how about a famous
entertainer (or politician, entrepreneur, whatever) who is
adored by the whole world, but dies of addiction or suicide
or foolish behavior? Marilyn Monroe comes to mind.
I cannot in good conscience consider them as having been
"successful" in an over-all sense.
Success is always about something specific. That bears
repeating and emphasizing: Success is always about some
specific, defined objective.
Most can (and have) achieved success in dozens of specific
ways. Millions of people have successfully lost five
pounds. Maybe you've mastered a new language, written a
book, hit your sales goals for the year, or purchased a new
house. All of these are "success," clearly defined!
As you ponder your goals and objectives for 2015, I
encourage you to define what success looks like in terms
of:
Your health
Your finances
Your career
Your relationships
Your spirituality
You hobbies and personal development
You may have other areas that are important to you. But in
every area, the categories and specific outcomes that you
choose will define your success far more than any temporary
feelings or the brief applause of the crowd.
Please consider the categories in which you desire success,
and then define specific outcomes or "finish lines" for
each category. It's much easier to achieve success by
saving 10% of your income during 2015, than to "get rich"
next year. Most people in good health can achieve the goal
of doing 100 sit-ups, but vague, generic goals of "being
physically fit" are more elusive. Be specific!
Second, success is about things that are important to you.
We all have talents or abilities that are unique and might
even amaze our friends--but they don't impress us or give
us pride because we take them for granted. They aren't
particularly important to us.
Success is achieved by accomplishing things that matter.
Being able to juggle may be a fun party trick, but if it
isn't important to me, my "success" won't be measured by my
juggling skills.
Choose categories that matter to you!
Success is about specific, measurable progress in areas
that you value. Becoming a measurably more patient,
thoughtful and effective parent might be a success that
changes your family forever, while becoming a better
juggler would make no difference at all. Learning new
skills to advance your career might make a huge difference
in income, recognition, new opportunities, or in a hundred
other ways, while one particular promotion may, or may not,
make much difference in the long-run.
Success is a very personal thing. It's about the
achievement of specific, tangible goals in a reasonable
amount of time, in areas that actually matter to you.
Choose your categories, then set specific "finish lines"
with care and thought. This is your life! And here's to
your extraordinary success in 2015!
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