During a workshop several weeks ago, I asked the audience, "what comes to mind when you hear the word, 'success'?" After a heated and highly participatory exchange, I counted 35 different meanings. The result of this experiment did not surprise me. It happens every time I ask workshop participants about what success means to them. The paradox about success is that although we all want to be successful, our interpretation of success is personal and unique shaped by our own perceptions and expectations.
As a new mom, the meaning of success to me right now is to be able to sleep at least three hours at a time. If you would have asked me months ago, I would have said having a healthy baby or landing new clients.
What shapes your definition of success? What are the first five words that come to mind when you think of being successful? Who do you consider successful and why?
