i am not a success

Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you're proud to live.

Anne Sweeney

As a coach that mostly works online I get a lot of DMs and spam about how I could build a 6 figure, 7 figure business if only I followed this mindset or that strategy. Now, I’m all for mindset, and I’m definitely all for strategy, and I would quite like to be a millionaire (early on I decided I wanted to be a philanthropist!) but if we take this idea of ‘figures’ as a measurement of success, then I have to admit it: I am not a success.

I haven’t bought a new house with my profits, I haven’t walked into the local car dealership and bought a new car in cash. I am not making a 6 figure income (although my finance goal falls into this) so I’m nowhere near making a 7-figure one. I am not heading off to Bali to run my business in swimwear.

Of course, this stuff is the measure of success for some - it works for them. But I can’t compare myself to these metrics because they are not my measures.

As a coach who helps people look at what they want, I might ask the question: what does success look like to you. And the ‘to you’ is an important bit here. Because if you can understand what really matters to you and what you would really love to have happen, then you can create goals and ’success measures’ that make sense for you, your family, your life, your work etc. You’ll identify what brings you meaning and how you can get there - which is super motivating.

Here are 10 things that feel like success to me:

1. I get to spend every Monday morning at the gym and spa.

2. I get to do school drop offs and be home when my children get back from school - and I take all the school holidays off.

3. I have earnt more money than I used to when I was employed.

4. I have much better boundaries and am building a business that serves me and my life (not the other way round).

5. I get to hang out and support the most brilliant people who want to live a life that feels good and does some good in the world.

6. I have a standing desk and an iMac (and love them!)

7. I can work at my desk, from my bed, the sofa, a coffee shop…

8. I have fun in my business and am learning all the time.

9. I get to make a positive contribution without breaking myself.

10. I don’t have to get in my car to go to work.

What do you often hear as the ‘normal’ markers of success in your area of work?

And how do these align with what you really believe is success for you? Let me know how you’re already being successful! Send me an email [email protected] or pop into Linked In and send me a message.