What Does Success Really Mean to Me, and Am I Aligned With It?

The Question That Defines Your Journey

Success—it’s a word you’ve chased your entire life. Perhaps it started with earning high grades in school, followed by landing your dream job, climbing the corporate ladder, and accumulating wealth or accolades. But as you lie awake reflecting on these accomplishments, you might find a subtle yet persistent voice asking: “Is this success? Or am I merely fulfilling a script written by someone else?”

True success is deeply personal. It’s not defined by society’s benchmarks but by your unique values, purpose, and the legacy you want to create. It’s about waking up each day feeling fulfilled and knowing your actions are aligned with the life you genuinely want to live. This journey to alignment demands both introspection and courage—but it leads to clarity, motivation, and peace. For women at pivotal career stages, redefining success is not just empowering; it is transformative. Success becomes a balance of ambition, purpose, and personal fulfillment, aligning seamlessly with your holistic aspirations.

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Step 1: Define What Success Means to You

The traditional markers of success—status, titles, and income—might not fully resonate anymore. As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, it’s essential to redefine success on your own terms.

Key Questions to Explore:

• What truly matters to me in life and business?
• What do I want my work to provide—freedom, purpose, impact?
• How do I want to feel each day—fulfilled, energized, at peace?

Examples of Personal Definitions of Success:

• Spending more time with family while running a thriving business.
• Building a business that creates meaningful change in your industry or community.
• Feeling excited and motivated about the work you do every day.

Deepen Your Practice:

• Example: An entrepreneur might define success as creating a business that provides jobs to underserved communities while maintaining work-life balance.
• Practice: Create a “Success Vision Board” with images and phrases that capture your aspirations.
• Pro Tip: Reflect on your happiest moments—they often hold clues about what success means to you.
• Metaphor: Think of success as a compass, not a destination—it’s meant to guide your decisions, not confine them.
• Story: Jane, a corporate leader, left her high-paying job to start a nonprofit for children. Her success shifted from profits to impact.
• Quote: "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." – Maya Angelou

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Step 2: Reflect on Your Current Alignment

Once you’ve defined success, the next step is to assess if your current actions align with that vision.

Key Questions for Reflection:

• Do my daily efforts move me closer to my definition of success?
• Am I pursuing goals that reflect my values or someone else’s expectations?
• Am I sacrificing what matters most for what looks good on the surface?

Signs of Misalignment:

• Feeling unfulfilled despite external accomplishments.
• Constantly prioritizing others’ needs or expectations over your own.
• A nagging sense that something is missing, even when you’re "successful."

Deepen Your Practice:

• Example: A business owner spends 80% of her time on tasks she hates, leaving no time for creative work she loves.
• Practice: Keep a daily journal of activities and rate them based on alignment with your goals.
• Pro Tip: Set boundaries to eliminate distractions that pull you away from your purpose.
• Metaphor: Imagine your life as a garden—are you planting seeds that match your vision, or someone else’s?
• Story: John realized his career in finance left him exhausted and started volunteering at animal shelters, rediscovering joy.
• Quote: "Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life." – Steve Jobs

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Step 3: Realign Your Actions With Your Vision

If you’re not aligned with your definition of success, it’s time to make changes—small, intentional shifts that bring your life and business into harmony.

How to Realign:

Reconnect With Your Why

Why did you leave the corporate world? What’s the purpose behind your business? Let your “why” guide your decisions.

• Example: Revisit the mission statement you wrote when you started your entrepreneurial journey.
• Practice: Spend 10 minutes each morning journaling about your "why."
• Pro Tip: When making tough decisions, ask, "Does this honor my why?"
• Metaphor: Your “why” is the anchor that keeps your ship steady during storms.
• Story: Sarah, an entrepreneur, refocused her business after remembering her initial desire to help single moms.
• Quote: "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." – Friedrich Nietzsche

Set Values-Driven Goals

Instead of focusing solely on financial or growth metrics, set goals that reflect your values. For example:

• Spending 3 afternoons a week with your family.
• Working only with clients who align with your mission.
• Example: A designer decides to only take projects that align with her sustainability values.
• Practice: Use the SMART framework to craft goals rooted in your vision.
• Pro Tip: Review your goals quarterly to ensure they still resonate with your values.
• Metaphor: Think of your goals as stepping stones across a river—each one leads closer to your vision.
• Story: James chose to scale back his hours to coach his daughter’s soccer team, aligning work with family.
• Quote: "Goals are dreams with deadlines." – Diana Scharf Hunt

Prioritize What Matters Most

Reallocate your time and energy to the areas that bring you closer to your vision of success. Let go of tasks, commitments, or clients that pull you in the wrong direction.

• Example: Delegate administrative tasks to free up time for strategic thinking.
• Practice: Use time-blocking to ensure priorities take precedence in your schedule.
• Pro Tip: Say "no" to opportunities that don’t serve your vision, even if they seem lucrative.
• Metaphor: Imagine pruning a tree—removing dead branches lets the healthiest parts thrive.
• Story: Emily declined a high-paying client because their values clashed with her company’s ethics.
• Quote: "The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." – Stephen Covey

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Visualizing Your Progress

 

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FAQs on Success and Alignment

1. How do I start redefining success?

Begin by journaling your thoughts about what truly matters to you. Reflect on your past achievements and whether they brought you lasting fulfillment. Look for patterns—what activities brought you joy or meaning? Then, start visualizing the life you want and write it down as a clear definition of success. Share these thoughts with trusted confidants or mentors who align with your vision for additional clarity.

2. How often should I revisit my goals?

It’s a good idea to revisit your goals monthly or quarterly to ensure they remain aligned with your evolving values. Regular check-ins allow you to adapt to new circumstances, ensuring that your definition of success evolves with your life and career. Creating a recurring calendar reminder can help you stay consistent.

3. What if my vision of success conflicts with societal expectations?

Remember, your success is personal. While societal expectations can influence you, staying true to your values ensures long-term fulfillment. It’s often those who break from societal norms who find the greatest joy and innovation in their work. Remind yourself that societal norms are a reflection of collective beliefs, not individual truths.

4. How can I measure success beyond financial metrics?

Consider metrics like personal happiness, work-life balance, and the positive impact you’re creating in your community or industry. Reflect on your relationships, health, and sense of purpose as alternative indicators of success. Tracking moments of gratitude or joy can also serve as a gauge for personal success.

5. What tools can help me stay aligned?

Tools like goal-setting apps (e.g., Trello, Asana) and reflective journals can help you track progress and realign as needed. For deeper alignment, consider engaging a mentor or coach who shares your values. Peer groups and mastermind sessions can also provide accountability and fresh perspectives.

6. How do I handle setbacks while pursuing my vision?

Setbacks are natural. Treat them as learning opportunities and adjust your approach rather than questioning your vision. Reflect on what went wrong, seek support when needed, and focus on small, actionable steps to get back on track. View setbacks as part of the refinement process, not a reflection of failure.

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Imagine Living Aligned With Your Definition of Success

Picture this: You wake up each morning with a clear purpose. Your business reflects your values, and your time is spent on what matters most. At night, instead of questioning your choices, you feel fulfilled, knowing you’re living in alignment with your true definition of success.

This life is possible. It starts with defining what success means to you and taking intentional steps to honor it.

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What’s Stopping You From Living in Alignment?

Often, the hardest part is letting go of old definitions of success and embracing a vision that’s uniquely yours. But once you do, you’ll find clarity, motivation, and peace.

External Links to Explore Further:

1. SMART Goals Framework - Learn how to set specific and actionable goals.
2. Emotional Intelligence and Success - Harvard Business Review's take on building emotional intelligence.
3. Work-Life Balance Strategies - Tips for achieving work-life balance.
4. Effective Journaling for Reflection - Explore the benefits of journaling.

Ready to redefine success on your terms? Start today and let your values guide your journey.