There are two things I'm confident about you. First, you're passionate about the industry you've chosen to dive into, whether in the brainstorming stage or up to your eyeballs in startup chaos. Second, there's a fire within you for success because, let's be real, who jumps into business without dreaming of becoming the next big thing or at least significantly less broke?
Now, pause for a moment and picture success. What do you see? If your mind immediately conjures images of Scrooge McDuck diving into his money bin, a calendar so flexible you could do yoga with it, a life full of adventure, or a house that has more bathrooms than you have friends, you're not alone. These are the classic signs of success - what everyone seems to think of when they picture "making it big."
But here's a question for you: What does success look like on your terms?
Vernon Howard, in his book The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power, said, "It is never your responsibility to create success. Your part is to make an effort to awaken to your True Self, whose very nature is success. You need only let it exist in your awakened consciousness."
Howard changes the narrative on our conventional view of success, suggesting that it isn't something we chase but, instead, something we realize within ourselves. It's not about accumulating external symbols of wealth and freedom but an internal awakening to who we truly, uniquely are and what genuinely fulfills us.
I think success is a misunderstood word. Since I just sold my business, you would think success would look like money in the bank to me. And that may have been true for my 25-year-old self who started the business, but now that I'm older, I no longer define success this way.
Success is ever-changing, ever-evolving, and living from a place of constant growth and contentment with ease. It is embracing your uniqueness, taking your ideas, and having the courage to take the first step. It is realizing you can change whatever path you are on when it comes from a place of love and joy. It is defining what joy and peace mean to you.
I was working through nursing school when I learned I was pregnant. My teachers said I had a bright future, but I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my baby with someone else while I worked all day. So I bought a few supplies, found a lady needing someone to clean her house, and added clients until I arrived here. For me, spending my days caring for, nurturing, and learning with my two sons was pure joy. My heart has never been as whole as it has been while raising them.
Success, in its truest form, isn't a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter adventure but an experience tailored to our unique measurements of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose. What I measure my success by may not be the same way you judge success. It's time we start asking ourselves the tough questions: What makes you tick? What sets your soul on fire? Is it really the corner office with the big windows and flashy titles, or is it something more, something deeper?
Awakening to Your True Self
According to Howard, the real journey to success is inward, not outward. It's about peeling back the layers of societal expectations and material desires to uncover the essence of our true selves. This isn't your typical self-help stuff; it's a calling to redefine success on terms that resonate with our deepest values and aspirations.
Imagine living a world where success is measured, not by the stuff we own or how fat our wallets are, but by how aligned we are with our unique selves. Where success is about the quality of our relationships, the impact we have on others, and the personal growth we experience on our journey. How refreshing would that be?
I mentioned gardening in my last post. You've planted the seeds, they've grown, and now it's time to enjoy your harvest. Think of success as a salad. The conventional ingredients of success (money, freedom, stuff) are like the lettuce. They're the base, sure, but the interest and satisfaction don't come from the lettuce alone. When you add other ingredients - your passions, values, contributions to society - that's when your lettuce becomes a salad.
So, once you're reaping the rewards of having a business, how do you create that salad? Start by asking yourself what you need in your success salad to make it satisfying. Is it having freedom to pursue projects that matter to you, having time and resources to contribute to your community, or maybe just having the ability to spend meaningful time with your family?
I think success is about becoming self-aware. Understanding what brings you joy and pain, what blocks you from taking your next steps, motivates you to reach goals, and helps you discover who you are – not who society or family paints you to be.
It's time we collectively embrace a broader definition of success—one that celebrates personal fulfillment, alignment with our true selves, and the impact we have on the world around us. After all, success isn't a destination; it's a way of living, a state of being that reflects our deepest truths and biggest dreams.
Let's start writing our own definitions of success. Because at the end of the day, the only person you need to impress is the one staring back at you in the mirror.
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