Are you successful?
Do you know the answer to that one, seemingly simple question? And if you answer YES, can you tell me why you feel this to be so?
The way you go about defining success in your business will shape the way your business evolves, what drives it, and what keeps you moving in the right direction.
It's surprising how few people have a specific definition as to what success means to them, and as such never know if their businesses are doing what it takes for them to be "successful".
Have you taken the time to sit down and really think about what it means to you, and what it means to your business to be successful? Do you know what it looks like? Without this you are a rudderless ship, always moving, but with no guarantee you're heading in the right direction.
Keep in mind there is no "right answer". Your definition will be unique to your situation, but it needs to be defined in such a way that you can feel it, smell it, visualize it, and stay focused on achieving it. Your definition needs to be something that is you, and becomes you, for it to ever be a reality.
Success for some could be as simple as taking the risk and starting a business, everything after that point will be icing on the cake. For others success could mean being able to serve a purpose and help people. Some will be monetarily driven, others spiritually, neither would be more right than the other.
Find your answer to this question. Be specific, be focused, and then drive your business in a manner that leads you to what you visualize today as successful.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Very Successful. Success = loving and being loved, doing what you were created to do and having overflow from which to give.
success = sustainable facilitation of mine & other’s goals for personal, career and academic development.
i think i am 85% there; seriously learning blogging for 1 year; solid head down etc for 5 months.
feeling successful as i paddle into 2009
@Michelle
“doing what you were created to do” that is the key to everything. If you can find this in yourself, you will be fulfilled, and wildly successful.
Matt
Well success depend on personal goal. Having money and having all the time to spend it is successful. Just being rich and no time to spend it is not.
@Char
I don’t know about you but my definition of success has changed throughout the years – Which keeps things interesting.
10 years ago I was much more motivated by monetary success. As I get older I’m more motivated by social success in helping others, and being the person my family needs. In 10 more years, who knows what I will consider successful, I just keep defining and striving for what I see as successful today.
Matt
@Ben Pei
That’s what makes it such a great question, yet hard to answer, becuase it is so personal. Our definition of success could be wildly different, yet if we both achieve it we are each successful in our own way.
Matt
Matt,
Great point about the definition of being successful. As this can mean different things to different people. I made the decision in December 2005 to leave the company that I was working for an hang my own shingle. To me my success is not measured directly by the amount of money I make but more by the fact that I love what do for a living and I do it on my terms.