May 14th, 2008
Define your own success
It’s been a rather busy few weeks so I’m only about 2 chapters in The Boss of You and so far I’m loving it! Although I’ve been my own boss for the last few years, I’m learning new things every day and this book is really helping me clarify a few things. One of the best exercises I did from the book was really think about, and write down, my idea of success. Lauren and Emira have a brilliant take on success and how we all define it differently. Success is not only, or always, about making huge amounts of money. For some, it may be having more time to be with your kids while still making enough to pay the bills. Or, perhaps your idea of success is being able to work in your pajamas and only starting your work day somewhere around noon. As Lauren and Emira point out, so many business books are all about the money with little, or no, regard to other important things in life. I may pen more of my thoughts on this, but I loved being able to define my idea of success in my own way and I was pleasantly surprised at how much had actually already achieved on my list. I felt rather successful actually. It was a nice moment to have, especially as I now embark on a rebrand of our company. It feels like the next logical step.
How do you define success? What does it mean to you? For me, I still have a number of goals I want to meet, but so far I’ve reached one level of success: My husband and I both work for our own company which has great, long-term client relationships, steady incoming work, pays the bills and allows us to decide how we work each day. Now to work on the next level.
P.S. Don’t forget you can comment on our guest blog post from Lauren and Emira and be entered to win a free copy of The Boss of You. Worth it, trust me!
May 19th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I have discovered that satisfaction in my work…a sense of purpose…the feeling that I am making a difference in the project I am working on matters more to me than the monetary side. Of course, I want to make enough money to pay my bills, provide some luxuries for my children, and have enough money to do things like go out to dinner with friends - and of course get my hair and nails done.
When I can get up each morning and look forward to at least one part of my work day and know that I make life easier for my clients, then that, my dear, means that I have a successful business.