What does success mean to you?
For me, the answer to that question has changed a lot as I’ve passed through different seasons of my life.
The dictionary definition of success is: “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Wikipedia tells us: “Success is the state or condition of meeting a defined range of expectations. It may be viewed as the opposite of failure. The criteria for success depend on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system.”
Therefore, success depends on our subjective definition of whatever we think it is, whatever our goals or ambitions, aims or purpose are. Which is perhaps a broader definition than we have been led to believe.
In our Western, capitalist-influenced culture, success often initially conjures up images of high-flying business leaders who’ve reached the top of their game in one industry or another, who have the nice house, the healthy family, the big salary and the fancy vacations.
As a result, a lot of us start out with some version of that as a kind of default north star – and for some that continues to be what success looks like. But many others redefine success for themselves as they learn about their own personal values, passions and talents, and instead orientate themselves to callings that better represent success to them.
That might be living life on their terms; being their own boss; living a quiet countryside life; raising a happy family; having no ties and the freedom to travel wherever they want… The list is of course as diverse and endless as there are people on Earth.
External circumstances can also have a major bearing on what we define as success. Over the past year staying safe and healthy and keeping our heads above water can be considered a great success in itself. For those who struggle with deep depression or health issues, sometimes getting out of bed in the morning and feeling not dreadful can be a win to celebrate.
It really is up to each individual how to define success. The only trouble is, a lot of us don’t give the question as much time and attention as we might. And starting each day with no clear idea of what success looks like or the direction we are heading toward is a fast track way to discontent.
That’s not to say that everybody must always be working towards a set of ambitious goals. For some, that definitely helps, but it can also be completely fine to be thinking “Success for me today/this week/this month is to take it easy and savour doing as little as possible.”
Then, at least you’ve defined success and can enjoy to the fullest the act of taking it easy. There’s a subtle distinction between doing very little with intention and therefore truly appreciating it – and doing the same amount of very little, but in an unintentional, unconscious way, bumbling through days without direction, burning time in our social media feeds, watching Netflix or other distractions.
So, as you’ve probably guessed by now, the theme of this week’s The Power Up is Success. Providing different perspectives on how to define it, how to measure it, and how to relish it.
In this week’s issue:
- Empower yourself to create the life you want
- 10 year thinking: Learn to play the long game
- The one question that could make every decision in your life easier
- What is success?
- ‘Success Addicts’ choose being special over being happy
- Start living, Stop tolerating: How to design a life on your own terms
- Buddha’s 7 rules of success
Plus plenty of bonus content too.
I hope you find something in this edition that inspires you to think a little differently about success and what it means to you.
Enjoy!
S U C C E S S
Empower yourself to create the life you want
We kick-off this week with a powerful video everybody should watch to help us think differently about how to define success and the path towards it for ourselves.
Dr Ben Hardy discusses the power of identifying our future desired state and then building our current behaviour and identity based on that.
M I N D S E T
10 year thinking: Learn to play the long game
Whatever you’re doing today, ask yourself: will this have helpful for your future self?
Building on the video above, this thought-provoking piece suggests we imagine our best self in 10 years. What will we be doing? The daily routines, habits, skills we’ll be using etc. Then, with that knowledge, start that life today and watch it compound over time.
A meaningful life today and tomorrow starts with intentional actions now.
M I N D S E T
The one question that could make every decision in your life easier
Using an analogy from the Team GB Olympic rowing team, Dr Ben Hardy is back again in this short video with some incisive, clarity-creating psychology.
Imagine the power of having just one simple question that you can use to inform every decision in your life.
What’s your version of “Will it make the boat go faster?”
S U C C E S S
What is success?
Success can mean different things to different people: Feeling that tingle of excitement about what you do, sticking with what matters through hard times, living a life you can feel proud of in retrospect.
This TED Talk Playlist explores success from a range of angles, including: Embracing the near win, Success as a continuous journey, Grit: The Power of passion & perseverance, and Can we have it all?
S P I R I T
‘Success Addicts’ choose being special over being happy
The pursuit of achievement can distract us from the deeply ordinary activities and relationships that make life meaningful, writes Arthur C. Brooks in The Atlantic.
Brooks explores the parallels between those driven by success and other forms of addiction, such as the willingness to sacrifice one’s own wellbeing in the pursuit of success.
C O N S C I O U S L I V I N G
Start living, Stop tolerating: How to design a life on your own terms
The key to designing a life on our own terms is to question: Is your life the result of your authentic & unaltered choices, or are you living a life that has been conditioned for you by the media your parents, your peers & society?
It can take years to develop the mindset that can lead us towards the life we envision, but doing so will allow us to make conscious choices without simply tolerating whatever is handed to us.
C O U R S E
The Power Up Your Life Masterplan
Try our 10-day email course to help you identify your values and define your own path to success
B O N U S
C O N T E N T
5 reasons why you’re stuck in your work (and in life)
4 of the most toxic myths about success
Buddha’s 7 rules of success
How do you measure success?
4 habits that separate ‘Lucky’ from ‘Unlucky’ people
A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
99 bits of unsolicited life advice from Kevin Kelly
The learning mindset that will set you up for a lifetime of success
The two opposing energies that underpin success
4 positive-sounding traits that can actually sabotage your success
“A satisfied life is better than a successful life.
UNKNOWN
Because our success is measured by others but our satisfaction is measured by ourselves, our own soul, mind and heart.”
