December Topic: Define success.
By Marion Knaus with Raise the Bar Fitness & Nutrition & Granolala
How do I define success? I have been mulling this question over since it was first asked of me. My initial response was “oh that’s easy. Success is…um…hmm”, well actually not such an easy question to answer. Trying to come up with a clear answer still eludes me and it probably always will. The more I think about it the more I see that it’s a heavily loaded question and a very personal one to answer. For me, success is like a kaleidoscope. It changes with every situation I find myself in.
Success isn’t measured by significant financial gain, although that is a bonus. Finding success is a process to work through as I have done many times over. Sometimes the process is easy, other times it’s incredibly difficult. It’s working towards a set goal. It can be a small step or a huge leap in the right direction. Success can be defined by making a decision. The decision can be to stay on course or deviate. That’s success. It’s working through a new idea or reaching the finishing point of a project. Both of those can give a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of succeeding. Finding yourself where you want to be is successful just as finding yourself where you need to be despite what you do to avoid being there.
No one else can truly measure your success. So, yes, success is personal. Deeply personal. And when I have that feeling that I’ve succeeded, oh is it ever good.