Is it all to do with having money and power?
Is it about being able to do things your way?
Is it about standing for something you believe in?
Success, of course, is very personal. Our definition of success can change over time as we move towards the latter years of our business ownership. It is not uncommon to begin questioning the real motivation around owning a business. For me personally, now the business is well established, success is about fulfilment. It’s about making a difference to others. It’s about influencing other people in a positive way.
Remember though, we can only have a positive impact on others if we have a zest; our mojo. As I always say to my team, if you are feeling mediocre it is highly likely that you’ll have a mediocre impact on those around you. We owe it to ourselves, and everyone around us – especially our family, to be the best we can be.
The culture within your organisation is key. Get the culture right and success will undoubtedly follow. How would you describe the culture within your organisation then? Try meeting with your employees and asking them to choose words that best describe your company’s culture. Are their responses aligned with your expectations?
Success for me is also about having choices, not being a slave to the business but standing for something I strongly believe in. Success for me is empowering people to take more control of their lives through financial planning.
So, what is your definition of success? Try encapsulating this in five bullet points. Is it anything like the definition of Laura Garnett, performance strategist, in her article published 2014 in Inc 5000.
“Success is spending the majority of my time focused on work or tasks that are fulfilling, leveraging my ‘zone of genius’, maximizing my potential and helping other people in a meaningful way while providing the freedom, lifestyle and experiences that I desire”.
Have a read of the whole article for there are some interesting takes from CEOs. Click here.
It’s not easy running a business. Our dreams and our measures of success can easily flounder when consumed by the daily demands of the business. It’s important not to get sidetracked, nor diverted from what you really want.
I’ll leave you with a statement from Richard Branson:
