What is Your Personal Definition of Success?

By Laura West

Like most entrepreneurs, when I first started my business my head and my heart were full of dreams for how my business was going to be different than the experience I had for the past 20 years of my work life. I was going to have fun, change people's lives, have flexible hours so I could spend more time with my sons, have more time to walk and exercise, and all the while, building a business that was an expression of my creativity. Oh, and of course, I would make lots of money!

Then as business starting taking off, I started feeling like I should work longer hours, should work harder, and ”it” – meaning success, should be happening faster. No matter how many days I was home to meet the school bus, how many wonderful testimonials from satisfied clients, and how many times a week I was able to include taking a walk into my schedule…I would always measure my success by the amount of money I made (or wasn’t making) And whenever I measured my success only by the amount of money I was making I was always in the dumps because, of course, it was never enough! We all know that when you are “in the dumps” it takes a whole lot of energy and perseverance to take any action in your business.

If I was frustrated, depressed or pessimistic about my business or my abilities, then it was always impossible to “make things happen”. It truly felt like I had to pull myself up from my proverbial bootstrap. It took a lot of energy, a lot of feeling alone, and a whole lot of pushing myself to believe that I was going to be successful. And, still I found myself working longer hours, sacrificing family time, and not doing the things I dreamed I would be doing as the CEO of my own company. It was easy to fall into this habit. After all, it was familiar. I was brought up with the idea that you were supposed to work hard and people struggled to make it and even then you had to always keep your nose to the grindstone to make more money. Money, after all, is the ultimate of success, right? Then I experienced I big change.

I changed my focus. I started purposely looked for areas in my life where I was already successful! With my children, attracting a new partner, writing articles that resonated with lots of people, coaching clients who had amazing success and shifts in their lives and businesses. The more I looked for what was working, the more happiness and joy I felt. The more creative I became. The more “flow” of ideas, actions, and people came my way without a lot of effort. And, ultimately the more money I made. It’s like coming into your financial success through the back door!

The more that I appreciate, measure, journal, track…all of those things that really matter, such as, daily or weekly flexibility, vacation/fun days, exercising, being conscious and loving in a relationship, being generous with others (parents, family members, organizations, community, friends), letting out my creativity, and the financial rewards (money, referrals, new clients, new colleagues to collaborate with)

What is your true measure of success? Why are you really in business? What are the things that must absolutely be present in your business for you to enjoy it and keep enjoying it well into the future?

As you read the articles in popular magazines like More, Motto, Empowered Woman, and Success at Home, you step into stories of lifestyle entrepreneurs. These are women and men who are focused on creating a successful business that is fulfilling, being able to live a life that is enjoyable, providing time for what is important and meeting their clear financial dreams.

A fulfilling business. Success. Enjoyable life. Time for what’s important. We read these words and yet for each and every one of us these phrases mean something different. What is success to one person would be too consuming for another. Things like not wanting someone who tells us when to work and when to not work – would drive one of us crazy and not so much as bother another.

So what is your personal definition of success? Think about things such as independence, flexibility, creative expression, engaging with interesting and creative people, having life balance, taking vacations, spending time with those you love, as well as the financial rewards.

Start tracking your whole life successes daily. “What you focus on is what you create”. So the more you focus on success (vs. what isn’t working) the more you will be, do and have authentic well-rounded, full out, success!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_West