How to Define Success on Your Own Terms
In his transformative book, Essentialism, Greg McKeown shares an impactful story:
"Jim Collins, the author of the business classic Good to Great, was once told by Peter Drucker that he could either build a great company or build great ideas, but not both. Jim chose ideas. As a result of this trade-off, there are still only three full-time employees in his company, yet his ideas have reached tens of millions of people through his writing."
This story highlights a truth we often overlook. As leaders, entrepreneurs, or simply individuals striving to live with intention, each of us has a unique vision of success. Yet, how often do we pause to consider what success truly looks like for us?
For many of us, we get caught up in the whirlwind of life, chasing goals that seem important without ever asking ourselves if they align with our deeper values. Are the markers we’re using to measure success truly reflective of the life we want to lead, or are they borrowed from someone else’s journey?
The indicators that signify success for me may not be the same for you. What drives one person forward might lead another astray. We often default to the usual suspects—business growth, career advancement, financial gains—metrics that are quantitative, not qualitative. But here’s the thing: growth for growth's sake isn't always the goal.
It's easy to start measuring success by someone else’s standards. But doing so can lead us down a path that, while successful by some measures, might be completely misaligned with what truly matters to us.
So, the challenge isn’t just to live deliberately—it’s to measure deliberately.
What Are You Really Building?
Think about what you’re trying to create. Is it a movement that challenges the status quo? Are you aiming to spark change in social justice? Or perhaps you’re driven to share powerful ideas that inspire others? Maybe your heart is set on building a loving, supportive home where your family can thrive.
Each of these aspirations requires different sacrifices and leads to different indicators of success. You likely can’t pursue them all at once. So, what will you choose?
To navigate this, consider these two crucial questions:
What am I truly trying to build with my life?
You could attempt to answer this comprehensively, across every aspect of your life. But sometimes, it’s more helpful to narrow your focus—consider a specific time frame (like the next 6 months, 2 years, 5 years) or a particular area of your life (such as health, career, or family).
This question helps you distinguish between what you can do and what you should do. What are you passionate about? What do you feel called to achieve? If you find yourself frequently saying “yes” to opportunities that don’t align with your true passion, you might be building a version of success that doesn’t actually fulfill you.
What signs will tell me I’m on the right path?
If you’re pursuing a creative passion, for example, your indicators might include:
Whether your schedule allows enough time for creative flow and idea generation.
Whether you’re exposing yourself to new inspiration that fuel your creativity.
Whether you’re completing your projects or getting stuck in endless revisions.
Whether your work is reaching an audience.
On the other hand, if your goal is to build a community of business leaders who mentor the next generation, your indicators will look very different. In your case, attending art shows might not be a sign of progress!
Staying Aligned with Your True North
Unless we’re clear about what we’re trying to build and what success looks like on that path, it’s easy to get sidetracked. We might mistake any momentum for progress when, in fact, it could just be a distraction.
Let’s be deliberate—not just in how we live, but in how we measure our lives.
So, what’s your picture of success? How will you know you’re on the right path?