I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL LIKE STEVE JOBS

When I finished university (it feels like ages ago:-)), I went into the corporate environment as a consultant. The first weeks at work I wore suit-like outfits everyday. It went from business dresses, business trousers and blouses to business skirts. I thought that was what I was supposed to be wearing, now that I had my university degree and a well paid consulting job.

Unconsciously I related „going to work everyday in a suit“ with being successful.

I was living what I know today to be a typical success myth.

And believe me, I am not alone with that misconception.

Often, when I discuss the meaning of success with my coaching clients, I realize that many people still live up to a success myth.

So, I asked myself how the dictionary defines success.

It says, success is the „achievement of an action within a specified period of time or within a specified parameter. Success can also mean completing an objective or reaching a goal…“*

Also, success is a „colloquial term used to describe a person that has achieved his or her personal, financial or career goals…“*

Especially in the second definition, a concept stood out for me:

Success is related to the individual´s goals.

Whaaoooo…

But, seriously, do you have your own definition of success that is related to your personal, financial or career goals?

If yes, you are one of the few people who do. You may want to go straight to the comments and share parts of your definition with us.

If not, be assured you are not alone. And you can change that today.

Indeed, incredibly few people have their „own“ definition of success.

Most of us have been told at a certain stage of our education. that success is tied to how much we earn, what job we are doing, how hard we are working, how many sacrifices we´ve made to get where we are…etc.

But nobody ever told us that we have to decide how much we earn, what job we do, how hard we work and how many sacrifices we make.

It is up to you to define the degree of fame, wealth, or social status for you to feel successful AND happy.

Your definition of success needs to consider who you are, where you come from, where you are now and where you are going in life?

It is totally okay if Steve Jobs is your role model. He had an outstanding vision for what he has created on this earth.

Money, job, hard work, sacrifices alone are not equal success. You need to balance them out with your personal purpose. Otherwise you are blindly living up to standards created by the society.

What does that mean?

First, the pressure that you feel when it comes to success is self-made!!!

The stories that you are telling yourself about what you „should“ have achieved in your life by now are „in your head“.

Nobody can define success for you; therefore nobody can put you in a closet of „shoulds“.

If you are ready to get out of that closet, then take some time and reflect on what success really means to you.

Unless you are clear on that, you will never feel satisfied with anything you have.

Second, you will run into people with a definition that is very different from yours.

Let them be.

I believe, that we need to learn tolerance toward the choices of others. Each individual will weight the personal, financial or career components of success differently.

Let others be and respect their choices.

When we do so, there will be less pressure to conform to public codes of success.

NOW It´s YOUR TURN

What is the ONE most important ingredient for you when it comes to defining success? Kindly share in the comments.

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