Are You Successful?
By Sarah Schultz

As a Coach, I hear the term "success" a lot. I've even been known to use the word myself from time to time. But lately I've been pondering what it actually means. What do people mean when they say "he's a successful writer" or "I want to be a successful working mother"? The dictionary defines success as:

1. Achieving or having achieved success

2. Having attained wealth, honors, position, or the like

3. Resulting in or attended with success.

Well, that solves it, huh? Really, what does this mean? According to these definitions, being "successful" means you've accumulated a large amount of money, or you've managed to solidify some arbitrary level of social status. But how do you measure these things? And does this mean that we can be successful in all areas of our lives, or just in our careers?

I contend that every one of us has a different definition of success, and that each area of our lives requires a different definition. I also think our personal values and our life ambitions drive how we evaluate our own success. So, instead of giving you the answer to this question today, I ask you to consider what success means to you in your life. How will you know when you've achieved success? As you begin to think about your personal standards for success, try to:

Be specific and measurable. For example, compare these two definitions: "I will be successful when I can spend more time with my family" vs. "I will be successful when I can spend at least 2 hours a day having fun with my family." The second definition will actually allow you to recognize when you've achieved your goal. The first definition is more abstract, so even if you're "successful" already, you'll have no way of knowing!

Avoid judging your definition of success. We're all completely different in terms of our values, our talents, our background and our interests. What may be a perfect definition of success for my best friend may not fit for me. Follow your heart, be open to being different from others, and let your definition of success be an inspiration for you, rather than a ball and chain you feel obligated to carry with you.

Modify your definition as your life experience changes. As I grow and learn more about myself, I've found that my definition of success changes too. Use your idea of success as a guide, but be flexible and open enough to change your definition if it no longer serves a purpose in your life.

We may never find one all-encompassing definition for success (at least, not one that actually makes sense for everyone on the planet). But isn't figuring it out for ourselves part of the fun?

About the author: Sarah M. Schultz, MA, CPC is a certified Personal Development Coach in Park City, UT. Sarah coaches quarterlifers (adults in their 20s and 30s) who want to create meaning and passion in their lives by building lasting committed relationships, creating a fulfilling work/life balance, and managing the stress of major life transitions. Receive your free copy of her Special Report: "Five Steps to Creating a Life You Love!" on her website at: http://www.newheightslifecoaching.com

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