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Success. It’s something most of us strive for. And for each of us the definition of that success can be quite different. We all make choices about career, family, education, health, finances and community that determine our “model” for success. But have you considered where your model comes from?
First of all, do you have a clear definition of what success means for you? Can you articulate it in a single sentence? (And if not, why not?)
Did you make a conscious choice (actually a series of choices) or did you inherit your model? Have you ever heard someone say “I never thought about whether or not I would go to University – it was just assumed that I would go…” or “my Dad is an engineer, my granddad was an engineer…it seemed the natural thing for me to do…” Those people in some way have inherited a model for success. It doesn’t mean they’re unhappy with the choice and it’s outcomes – but it is important to recognize the source or driver of your choice.
What are the ingredients of success for you? This is really a question of prioritization. We could probably all come up with a list of things that are important to us. Health, career, family, friends, finances…and the list goes on. The challenge comes when we are asked to make a choice between them. What happens when an important work meeting clashes with your daughter’s netball game? What do you do if you have planned to go to the gym in the morning and the boss asks you to travel interstate? What comes first, your MBA finance class or family dinner? These are all choices we are faced with everyday and our decisions reflect our priorities and therefore our definition of success.
Do you want to change your model of success? I hear about this often in coaching sessions. It’s most often discussed in context of “restoring balance” or “work-life balance”. Changing our model for success is like any other change. First we have to want to change. Then we need to know what change to make – i.e. a vision and goals. That of course leads to an action plan, action, evaluation, refinement, evaluation, refinement…etc… Sounds easy, right? |
