What does success mean to you?
What if success is less about how much money you make, or many houses you own, and more about how fulfilled you are? Maybe it's about the impact you make in your community, or how loved you are by the people who matter.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly success means to you?
Many of us have us never stop to ask ourselves this very important question. Instead, we may follow the path of everyone else, pleasing those around us. Perhaps we may chase the traditional view of success: money, fame and power. But why is it then that so many celebrities and public figures who have all these things seem so desperately unhappy? Is that what being successful is about?
Jim Carrey once famously said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
Maybe a better way to view success is by how much you love going to work. Or the degree you earned through years of education. Or maybe it’s the impact you’ve made in your community, or how much you’re loved by the people who matter to you.
What is your definition of success?
If you still have not defined your idea of success, try this exercise: Take 15 minutes with a blank piece of paper and start writing words, symbols or pictures of what success looks to you. You might want to focus on your immediate or near future ideas of success. You might feel inspired to look at your whole life and start to document what a successful life looks like to you. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What makes me happy?
- Where have I already been successful in my life?
- What lessons have I learned from those experiences?
- What was not successful and what did I learn?
- Who do I admire and why?
- What truly matters to me?
- What do I want to be remembered for?
Success is better measured by what engages and energises us every day.
Typically, the very activities that engage and energise us are driven by our innate natural talents.
If you have strong influencing or relationship talents, you will likely be energised by managing a team or growing a business. Perhaps you are a great problem solver, strategist or visionary, inspired by new ideas and do your best work when you have time to think and reflect. Or maybe you love the adrenaline rush of multiple projects and deadlines.
Success is unique for all of us because we all have a different mix of talents.
As a student at Torrens University, you have access to the Clifton StrenghtsFinder, to help you unpack your innate talents. If you are a current student and haven’t done so already, contact your Success Coach to find out how.
When we consciously apply our talents to our studies, our career our personal life, we develop them into strengths and this is where we find meaningful success.
How do our Success Coaches define success?
Our Success Coaches help students become successful in whatever way that means to them. Our coaches work with our current students throughout the trimester to build on personal strengths and professional capabilities. This specialised one-on-one service helps students clearly define what success means and how they can get there.
“Success to me is doing what you love and being authentic whilst you do it. We all require meaning in our life and I believe you are successful when you have found that purpose and commit your life to it.”
– Toni Jones, success coach for Education students
“I believe success is about motivation. Ultimately everyone wants to reach their highest potential and be happy and fulfilled. The key to finding what motivates you, and ultimately be successful, is to work out what makes you truly happy and helps you to reach your highest potential. As success coaches, we help students to discover what these are for them and use Gallup strengths to help them achieve this.”
– Sarah Reeves, success coach for Health students
“The definition of success to me is understanding what success looks like; make sure you have a vision: what do you want your life to look like in five, ten, fifteen years’ time? Keep setting yourself small goals to create a sense of constant momentum.”
– Richard Whitfield, success coach for Design students
“The definition of success to me means doing something that makes you happy, and something that you enjoy. It also means often not taking the path of least resistance, but opening yourself to new challenges that enable you to grow and develop mentally, spiritually and professionally.
– David Whyte, success coach for Hospitality students
“Success for me is going home feeling fulfilled. Feeling that I’ve made a difference, done the best that I can and helped somebody move through a challenge and towards their goals. Success is that feeling of knowing that I am on the right track and doing what I am meant to be doing. It’s taken me a long time to learn that no amount of money will suffice for a lack of purpose and passion. When I act out of purpose and passion, I feel I have created success.”
– Dan Kuss, success coach for Business Students