What is success? Does it have to mean the same thing to all of us? And how can we break away from society's definition of success and forge our own - especially when our definition of success may be daringly different to other people?
These are questions I want us to tackle in this episode.
I discuss...
Why, to me, success can't and shouldn't be measured by external achievements and circumstances. (Like how much money you make, whether or not you are married, how many followers you have, and more.)
Why I don't think we should define success by how happy or good we feel either.
Why we shouldn't conclude someone else isn't making a success of their life simply because they haven't reached the markers of success we've put on our own lives and businesses.
But before we dive in, I want to touch on something I only talk about briefly in this podcast episode:
There's nothing wrong with wanting external achievements and circumstances. For example, there's nothing wrong with wanting to build a six figure business. This episode is NOT here to shame you for wanting to achieve goals like this.
But what I do think is tricky is when we define whether or not we are a success based on whether we achieve that external goal or not. Because that then places our worth in something outside of ourselves. And anything outside of us can disappear.
I also believe we have to be careful not to take on other people's ideas of what success is. In the online business world, this is easily done. You may hear people like me talk about building a six figure business, or others talk about building a million dollar business, and start to think that's what success is.
Here's a secret:
Most people who have built six and seven figure businesses don't feel that is what makes them a success.
It's not a crime to want to reach a certain income goal.
In this episode, I'm not telling you shouldn't want to, for example, make six figures from your business. It's way more doable than you think. And there are lots of reasons why you should pursue that as a goal if you feel called to. I have a six figure business and it's my goal to keep it that way.
But it isn't my definition of success. And that's the key here.
If it were - if money and the six figure milestone were my ideas of success - my sense of self worth would be resting on an external achievement that I may not even always reach year in and year out.
I truly believe that the peace and feeling of wholeness we all desire in life doesn't come from things outside of us, it has to come from within.
So go ahead and set external goals. Try your best to create the life you want! I know I’m trying.
But make sure those goals don’t make up the sum of your worth and success. Because what you build outside of yourself can be taken away. But what you build inside is within your control and with you until your last days.
Click “play” on the podcast player below to tune in!
Timestamps
08:38 - Popular definitions of success
11:26 - My old definition of success
13:12 - How your upbringing, culture and background shapes your early definition of success
15:00 - Why I don't want my definition of success to be based on how I "feel" or external achievements & circumstances
19:27 - My new definition of success
21:04 - What contributes to making me and my life feel whole
About Nesha
Hey there! I’m Nesha, host of The Simple Business Show. I teach creatives how to build profitable online businesses without the hustle and crazy work hours so they can live the freedom-filled lifestyle they dream of. When I’m not working, you’ll find me sipping caramel macchiatos at Starbucks, reading personal growth books, or traveling the world with my backpack and my laptop!
Looking for more ways I can help you? Here they are:
Organize & Automate - Join 1200+ students and learn how to organize your entire online service-based business in just two weeks (on the side of your regular routine!) so you can stop stressing and fall back in love with your business.
Simple Sales School - Learn how to get a consistent flow of clients so you can build the income & financial freedom you desire.
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