"There's always time to redefine your success from what you have done to what you plan to do!" - Futurist Jim Carroll
I've always believed that true success isn't about what you've done – it's about what you plan to do next.
Let me share some thoughts on how you can redefine success in your own life:
- Embrace continuous learning. The world changes at lightning speed these days. Your past accomplishments are valuable, but they're not your ticket to future success or happiness! To truly thrive, become relentlessly curious and eager to teach yourself something new every day. Build your "experiential capital" by jumping into fresh challenges that prepare you for whatever comes next.
- Challenge the assumptions you have used to define yourself. We all develop mental scripts about what success should look like. Take a moment to question these beliefs! Ask yourself: "Am I chasing this goal just because it's what I've always done or what others expect?" Don't get trapped in the "we've always done it this way" mindset. It might be time to write your own personal definition of success.
- Focus on growing. Instead of defining success by achievements alone, think about how you're growing as a person. Are you gaining new skills? Expanding your understanding? Evolving into someone you're proud to be? True success is the journey of personal transformation, not just reaching destinations.
- Maintain a future-positive mindset. Always focus on opportunity, not threat. When redefining success, adopt this same positive outlook! Rather than dwelling on past wins or losses, get excited about future possibilities. The most innovative people I've met share this trait – they see potential where others see problems.
- Get unstuck. Too many of us get stuck in endless planning without action. Redefining success means actually pressing "play" on your ideas instead of just thinking about them. Take that first step, however small, toward your new vision of success. The future belongs to those who take action, not those who merely contemplate it.
- Reinvent regularly. The traditional career ladder is rapidly fading. We're moving toward "itinerant careers" and "active life-design" where you can blend personal passions with making a living. Success might mean creating a flexible, fulfilling path that doesn't look like anyone else's. The question changes from "what do you do?" to "what do you love to do?"
In the end, redefining success is about switching from constantly looking in the rearview mirror to focusing on the road ahead. It's about being proactive, embracing change, challenging yourself, spotting opportunities, and having the courage to pursue what truly matters to you.
Success becomes less about what you've accumulated and more about the reinvention journey you're actively creating!