Today, I’m want to share with you tried and tested system for creating your definition of success so that you can start living it right away!
In this forum, the closest I can get to helping you create your definition of success is to ask you a series of questions so that you can discover the daily habits that will lead you to experiencing and enjoying success. To do this, you need a solid foundation. For those of you who have participated in my lifestyle entrepreneur mindset mastery, these questions may feel familiar.
In the words of Theodore Vale, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” Think of this as creating a road map for your future – starting with where you are and plotting the route to where you want to be.
Typically, we associate the trio of mission, values and vision with creating a business plan. Today, we’re going to use the exact process to help you create your definition of success and then the life plan.
Mission
Ask yourself these questions and remember this is you personally, not your business or career:
- What is your purpose in the world?
- What are the problems you care to solve or the contribution you want to make in the world?
- What do you want to see less of in the world?
- How do you want your life and work to make people feel?
- What change do you want to create in the world?
- What one sentence would others use to describe your contribution to their lives?
Values
Often, my clients are stumped when asked to define their values. Why? Because they are so much a part of us. It’s not unlike asking you to describe how you do something that you do effortlessly and without much thought.
To help you with defining your values in 3–7 words or phrases, brainstorm a list of words or phrases that that represent the criteria of how you lead your life; how you honor the non-negotiables, how you make decisions. Then start narrowing the list – in this instance, fewer is better.
When you have your list, ask these questions about your values:
- Did you live your life according to your values in the past 12 months?
- If not, do they still reflect the kind of life you want to be leading?
- If yes, then what do you need to do differently to make them that way?
- If not, then how could you redefine or change them to make them more like the life you imagine?
Your values serve as a compass. Periodically, check in and ask yourself, “Am I living my life in a way that reflects these ideals?” For example, let’s say green living is one of your values so you would ask, “Am I living my life in a way that respects mother earth? Do my systems, habits, and goals support this value? If not, is the value no longer important or are there other interferences that I can identify?”
Vision
Your vision is the picture you hold in your mind of the way you want your life to be in the future. This is when you are living your mission and values. Here are some categories for you to consider and please add to this list:
- Professional – employed, entrepreneur, retired, hobbyist?
- Financial – what role do wealth and money play in your life?
- Physical – how do you maintain physical health and wellbeing?
- Relationships –family, friends, community, world?
- Spiritual – what is your practice to connect to a higher sense of meaning?
- Mental – what exercises support and encourage vibrancy and vitality?
- Adventure – what activities will break you out of your daily routine?
As you create your vision, focus less on specifics and more on the general feelings you’ll have when you’re living your vision.
When you have your mission, values and vision for the different areas of your life, the next step is to start making it happen – time for action.
You may decide to release some old behaviors that don’t support how you see yourself in the future. The vision you’ve created may require some new goals, habits and systems that will support you on your journey from who and where you are to who and where you want to be in your future.
You may want to seek out role models and/or create a support system that will continue to inspire you and keep you on track. Ask yourself, “Who’s a role model that represents my definition of success?” Let me stress here, this isn’t an invitation for comparisonitis! Rather it’s an opportunity for you to learn from someone; someone who can teach you to become more of the person you want to be; to have the life, business, spirituality and vitality you want and the relationships you desire.
Phew – like I said in the beginning, this is a big question that can be a game changer for you. Bringing this to a close, I’ll leave you with this. For me, taking the time and effort to create my definition of success changed how I approached life, business, relationships and living.
I was no longer content with having success in the future, something I was striving to attain. Rather I wanted to savor, enjoy, experience success each and every day – some days in a big way, other days were small successes.
Today, I live in success – it is a mindset, a way of being. And it gives me great joy, peace and a sense of fulfillment. I used to live my life in pieces; today I live my life in peace.
My hope for you is that you create your definition of success and live it every day in every aspect of your life. After all, it is your life and your future!
So go, be successful starting right now!