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In the same way you, as an individual, are unlike any other, your dreams are equally unique.
Some people strive to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Some are perfectly happy working 9-5 for a small business they are excited to go to every day.
Then others, like me, want to create a living on their own terms by owning their own business. These businesses come in all shapes and sizes and fill niches in every imaginable need, service, and career path.
Why you chose to go into business and how you define its success may look nothing like someone else’s choice. What motivates you to get up and work each day could be vastly different than your competition. That’s because everyone defines success differently and determining your unique definition can help you better measure your success.
Moola and “Stuff” Isn’t the Only Measurement for Success
I think it’s safe to say that most people use the Measuring Stick of Success based on how many dollars are in their bank account and how many things they own.
Online thought leader Gary V commented once that the happiest people he knows are those with very little to their name. He added that some of the wealthiest people he knows are also the most miserable.
I know this is not the case across the board, but I think there’s a pretty strong vein of truth in this observation.
I’ve been financially flush and I’ve been barely getting by. In this season of my life I could categorized myself as blessed and content. THAT, is what success looks like to me as thoughts of retirement in ten years creep into my thoughts regularily.
Money may play a role in success but it isn’t necessarily the defining indicator.
What’s Your Definition of Success?
My teenager daughter dreams about grand houses, servants, and creating her own Secret Garden. I applaud her and encourage her because, why not? What good are dreams filled with low hopes? Maybe she will get what she wants, maybe (as she hits mid-life) she will be content with a cottage in the woods. My point is that our definition of success will shift and flow with life and wisdom.
I told her if she strikes it rich, she needs to take care of me when I’m old. ::giggle::giggle::snort::snort.
Is success (for you) working only 3 days a week to make ends meet? Or is your vision of success doing the work you love even if it means working more hours than a full-time job. Either way, you do YOU. If it brings you incredible joy, then you’re a success.
Ask Yourself These Questions:
- What do your business goals revolve around? Examples could include time, family, money.
- How important is personal satisfaction? Do you mind doing work you don’t love if it pays well or prefer less income but higher work satisfaction?
- What do you want your business to be known for? What is your End Game?
- At the end of one year, what would success look like to you?
- Do you love setting and reaching personal goals?
You get to determine what your success looks like regardless of another perspective. Once you know what matters most to you, it’s easy to set goals, measure them, and emphasize what steps you need to take to be your brand of successful.
Need more info? Check out my latest post called 5 Dream Discovering Questions for 2024 HERE.
One More Thing
If your dream in the coming year is to bring a story to light, I can help! As a Non-Fiction Ghostwriter and Book Shepherd I know that many, many people have at least one story inside of them. Maybe it’s a memoir filled with the knowledge that came from a lifelong journey through tough times. Maybe it is a how-to book that reflects something you are passionate about, like homeschooling, rescuing animals, and helping small business owners run their shops better. Maybe you are a survivor and have many lessons to teach and share. The common thread all of these scenarios have is that, no matter what stage of life you are in, it’s never too late (or early) to share your story with the world in the form of a published book.
“Every writing project originates with an idea, and the concept starts with the storyteller.”
But what do you do if you have a story to tell, but don’t have the time, patience, writing chops, or organizational skills to bring your book to life? Or maybe, you struggle to articulate your story because of trauma, shyness, or being unsure of the writing process. To date, I have help four authors pluck their story from their brains and bring their published story to the reading public. If this sounds like something you’d like to know more about, contact me at RebeccaFlansburg (at) Gmail (dot) com to schedule a consultation or go HERE for more details.
