Posted under Career Planning, Women on July 22nd, 2008
I’m often surprised to notice how many people wanting a career change are motivated by a far-off vision of success, but, like the legendary unicorn, whether their definition of success truly exists and what it looks like remain elusive.
What’s the antidote for this? I like the strong case made by blogger Tom Volkar that success is an inside job, or at least originates there. But once you know that, where do you look to discover more?
Tom talks about changing one’s perspective in order to recognize the vast array of possibilities that are open to us every day. I have a favorite way of framing this for my clients: “Every time you notice yourself “knowing” something, an opinion about ‘the way things are’, turn it into a question and let curiosity take you where it will.”
Another fruitful line of inquiry is to think about the impact you want to have had, when all is said and done. I often ask my clients what they want their legacy to be, or - for the strong of heart - what they want to be acknowledged for in their obituary. Interestingly - and this may not surprise any of you -more often than not the answers that come back aren’t about acquisitions or achievements; they’re about commitments to living a particular way, or becoming a particular kind of person. This is summed up in the old saw, one I heartily endorse: “Success is a journey, not a destination.”
Here’s one last suggestion for adding clarity to your success vision, and it may stir some disagreement. Be sure it’s a stretch. If it fits easily, it probably isn’t big enough! What distinguishes us from all other mammals, after all, is striving. The exhilaration of “getting there”, the sense of fulfillment, comes from doing - or being - that which we didn’t know we could do or be.
What do you think? Please join the conversation. After all, there’s no “one size fits all” about true success.
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