In looking back at the last 12 months, how would we define success? As we look ahead to the next 12 months and stare it straight in the eye, does that definition still satisfy us? Probably not. Most of us have most likely been considering a new vision of what success means for ourselves given the changes that we have experienced. Both in our professional lives as well as our personal lives.
Sometimes our new vision may not exactly look like success to the outside world. It may look like arranging our schedule to accommodate more family time. Or donating a percentage of our net income, either business or personal, to a charitable organization because we feel it’s important to demonstrate our principles. Or that we suggest to our boss that company members volunteer some time quarterly to help with a cause. Or it may even mean looking for a new job, going back to school, or starting our own business.
Success may also look like increasing our income, investing in our professional education, and sticking with our long-range plan regardless of the temptations of other potential employers and projects.
The definition of success in the 21st century is much more subjective than it ever has been. It’s up to us to dig down as deeply as we can to find if we can be true to ourselves and to be as authentic and real as possible. It may not be easy, but it is truly worth doing. What does that mean? It means it’s time to write our new book, step into our new life. of you and your success.
To launch that new book, to step into that new life, we will want to clear as much clutter and chaos from our lives as possible, both in our physical environment as well as in our thinking environment. Clear out past mental constructs: all those resentments, grievances, complaints, feelings of victimizations – all those memories that limit us from being who we really are now and from moving forward to our new world of success. Finish clearing our homes, our offices, our cars, our desks, or whatever, from so much of the past – papers, photos, knickknacks, clothing we no longer wear – things that no longer serve us. Get all of that backlogged filing done and make way for the new.
There may or may not be any outward change as a result of this deep success exercise right away. The immediate result is that there is an intention and space created for success to come … deep success!
