I was recently a guest on the podcast Fueling Your Legacy hosted by Sam Knickerbocker.  On the show, he asked me what I felt was my greatest success.  That got me thinking about this idea of success.  What does it mean?  Is it the same for each of us?

Consider pizza.  You have your favorite pizza from your favorite pizza place.  In your mind, the chef is successful in making your favorite pizza.  Now think about a friend of yours.  Perhaps her favorite pizza is different than yours.  In her mind, the chef is successful in creating HER favorite pizza.  But now think about the chef.  What if he HATES making pizza?  Even though he’s good at it and you and your friend think he’s successful, what if he feels like he’s not a success because he really dreams of being a pastry chef?  Three different perspectives on success.  And…ALL THREE ARE CORRECT!

Success means different things to everyone.  And success means different things to the same person at different times in their life.

When I was asked what my greatest success was, my first thought would have been grad school.  But then I thought about my successful career and thought, “that must be it.”  Then I thought about building my boat…and building my house…and even most recently, building a beautiful fence.  Each time I thought I was successful.

Consider this.  SUCCESS IS A PERSPECTIVE NOT A DEFINITION!

You can be a “successful” brain surgeon but not a successful parent.

You can be a “successful” lawyer but not a success in long-term relationships.

So, what about less “fancy” jobs like a cashier or fast food cook or construction worker.  Can they be a success?

What defines success?

According to Merriam-Webster, success is:

* degree or measure of succeeding

* favorable or desired outcome

* one that succeeds

Nowhere in that definition does it say it’s a doctor or lawyer or construction worker or parent.  It’s a measure.  It’s an outcome.  If that’s the case, it is absolutely the case that YOU can determine that measure and that outcome.

You could define success as being a good person that loves beyond measure.  Someone that appreciates spending time with friends and family.  Someone that is kind and loyal and forgiving.  And for a job, you could work for minimum wage…or not work at all…and you could consider yourself successful.

You could define success as making over $200k per year, attending galas, being famous, and driving a fancy car.  And YOU could consider yourself successful.

Like the two different kinds of pizza.  Success in your life is your perspective.  Therefore, to live your life successfully would be to live your life being who you are and achieving whatever it is you define as success.

Your version of success can change daily…

Some days are super hard…you don’t feel well…your bumming…you feel fat and frumpy…on those days, success could be that you managed to get out of bed and shower.

Other days you may feel unstoppable, like you can take on and take over the world….so you put yourself out there, try something new, enroll in a class, ask for a raise, learn a new skill, and that is a success.

The key to it all is to celebrate ALL of your successes, no matter how big or small they are…and not compare your successes to others.  Remember your favorite pizza just may not be theirs.

So what about failure?  Failure is also a perspective.  So you are the boss of you.  Change your perspective.  When you fail at something, look at is as you have succeeded in learning what NOT to do and can make correction.

A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances.