Everyone has to define their own picture of success. They need to consider different areas of their lives that can be considered successful. You’ll want to think about:
- Your personal life
- Your professional life
- Your spiritual life
- Any other areas you want to see success
Each area you’re seeking success in is different. However, each area is not unique in what you must do to reach success.
Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash
What Is Your Picture Of Success?
Think about what success looks like for you. What do you want in your life? Your business? Your spiritual life?
A lot of leaders desire the following:
- More time with family
- A thriving team
- Financial freedom
- Open communication lines
- A lasting legacy
All of these are great things. However, you’re just touching the tip of the iceberg when you’re listing out success in these terms. You have to paint a clearer, more defined picture of success.
Instead of:
- More time with family: consider the picture of success in that area as: I spend X hours a week with my family. We go to ballgames, movies, and concerts. We enjoy each other’s presence. We love the time we share and the experiences we have together.
- A thriving team, consider: My team is fully functioning. My team all know their roles, responsibilities, and next action steps. They’re happy with where they are and where they can go.
- Financial freedom, paint the picture: My family and I are financially free. Financial freedom means that our mortgage is paid off, we have no debt, and we can splurge without the fear of going into debt. Our total household income equals X amount of dollars. Financial freedom is having more than enough to go on date nights, donate to our church and other loved non-profits, save for our kids’ college education, and save for retirement.
- Open communication lines become: We have daily stand-up meetings where everyone is free to share. And they do! My door is open and people use it to share concerns, updates, and wins. Everyone is willing to share without judgment or fear of retribution.
- A lasting legacy is great, but what does that look like? It looks like this: I have written 5 books that have impacted the lives of millions of readers. Their lives have been changed because of the words I have written. My children’s children have heard the stories of Grandma and Grandpa and how their love stayed true despite difficult times. Generations have come to faith because of the faith I lived out.
Can you see the differences in each statement of success? The first set was generic. They laid out a 10,000 foot overview. They didn’t get to the specifics.
The second set spelled out success more clearly. As you read the second set, you can see what success means. You also see an endpoint. You see a way to tell if there is success.
That’s painting the picture of success. That’s making success a clear target to reach.
Let’s make our success goals clear, specific, and achievable. The more clearly you paint the picture of success, the more likely you’ll be able to reach what you deem success.
