What does success look like to you?
How do you personally measure success?
This question has been popping up repeatedly in different conversations over the last while. Some are taking another look at the things they consider to be important; coming to the realization that what they’ve been aiming at might not be as rewarding as they once thought. Or it comes at a price they are no longer willing to pay.
To what extent are we free to define our own measures of success?
The athletics events have been taking place over the last week at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It has been fascinating to watch the athletes from this perspective: trying to gauge what they consider to be success from a distance. Some have reached their life’s goal “simply” qualifying to participate in the heats (like you could call becoming an Olympian simple). Others are medal contenders and have every expectation to go home with some shade of metal around their necks. For them just being in Tokyo is not enough.
To what extent are you free to define our own measures of success?
We came across this post a while ago from Liz and Molly which we adapted slightly:
The typical measures are well known: hefty bank balance, big house, German car, title etc. These are tangible measures, easy to define and measure. Some are a bit more abstract and devious: being so busy you have no time to eat or sleep, being stressed to the level of collapse, being the go-to person that always needs to save the day. Although we don’t necessarily like being tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, these feelings often become a measure of our contribution and worth. Who doesn’t like to be needed, right?
If you find yourself being stretched to your maximum but still unfulfilled, it might be a good time to reconsider your measures of success. Instead of focusing on acquiring things or your output, why not consider your level of mental and physical health, the time you spend with loved ones, or doing something because it is fun as viable measure of success?
Why should these measures be less important than any other?
When last did you take a step back to reconsider what you are chasing after?
And finally…GO BOKKE!!!
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
