This week I am assisting a large client with performance reviews. One of my questions to TEAM members is…‘How do you define success?’
That said, in life the actions you take to achieve your results are vital. Yet if success is defined purely by results, your actions have no value until they lead to a result. Your motivation hangs on the hope of reaching that goal, otherwise your efforts are for nothing.
The problem with focusing purely on results is, you’re a failure until you get that result. And when you do get the result, success is fleeting and momentary. Then it’s onto pursuing the next booking or the next client, where you’re yet again back in the place of pursuing, hoping and wondering if you ‘have what it takes’.
“Some people like me love the chase. The ruthless pursuit of success, others just like to exist” Steven Cohen, GreenMark Consulting Group
For me, I define success as the Power of the ‘P’, The three P’s- Purpose-Passion & Pride drive my determination at all times. Just because my mindset of the three P’s drives me, I am still faced with challenge and sometimes even failure. The ebbs and flows of being a great business person, consultant and mentor only drive my determination to do better- While this works well for me, for many people, feeling like a failure doesn’t push them towards success.
Self doubt, It invites us to spend time and energy entertaining doubt and indecision, to go round in circles questioning ourselves and our own abilities. It tempts us to spend hours, days and even weeks researching obsessing about the competition, devoting our energy and attention on studying their every move, rather than our own. It makes us desperate for the sale – and we all know well from dating days, desperation does not attract. It puts all our focus on what other people do, rather than what we do. Whether the audience smile or frown rather than how we deliver our message. Whether the prospective client says yes or not, rather than the conversations we have, the relationship we build, the work we do that gives them a reason to say yes.
I caught myself being too focused on results recently. Despite having a couple of great weeks, lots of reasons to be happy, I found myself feeling subdued. Not terrible, or bad, just a bit muted.
I got to the end of what by all accounts was a very productive day. I’d taken account of everything I’d done. But I hadn’t put a metaphorical tick in my ‘results’ box, I felt like there was an itch I hadn’t quite scratched. I felt dissatisfied, and unproductive.
That evening I took on a self-imposed exercise of writing down a list of my qualities, strengthens and weaknesses. At the top of my list were three things;1) I am a seed sower, 2- I am an inspiration to others 3- I am a light in the dark for others I engage with. At that moment it hit me….I am driven by my three P’s, Purpose, Passion & Pride- Sowing seeds. Inspiring people. Shining a light. This is what I do. These are my measures of success. And In the end, it drives me each and everyday.
How do you define success? Please share your thoughts.
Looking for a good book on the subject, suggested reading;
- The Visionary Leader: How to inspire success from the top down.
- Susan Bagyura (Author), Michael E. Gerber (Foreword), Fiona Dempsey (Illustrator)
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