Finding Your Own Definition of Success

Success. Just reading the word, and suddenly, a hundred flashy images flood your brain, right?

Sports cars, a sick beach house, maybe a private jet or that corner office with a view. But let’s pump the brakes a second. What if “success” isn’t as cookie-cutter as it looks on a magazine cover or a billionaire’s Instagram feed?

What if the path you’re on doesn’t fit the traditional mold, but damn, it feels like success to you anyway?

That’s where we’re headed today—exploring what success means, not to the world but to you. Defining your own version of success might just be the most freeing thing you’ll ever do. At least for today, anyway.

Success Is a Moving Target (And That’s Okay)

First thing to get.. Success is a slippery little bastard. It changes depending on where you’re at in life, what matters to you, and how much crap you’re willing to put up with to get there.

When I first started out, success looked like security—no more penny-pinching, no more counting down the days till payday. But as things got rolling, that definition shifted.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just about making ends meet; it was about building something I could be proud of and, yeah, maybe taking a few vacations without sweating the cost. But as time goes on, Even that vision keeps changing.

Your version of success is allowed to evolve. So if you feel like what you wanted five years ago doesn’t make sense today, that’s not you being flaky—that’s growth.

The key here is staying honest with yourself and constantly checking in. If your “end game” doesn’t light you up anymore, pivot. It’s your story; write it however the hell you want.

You Don’t Have to Be Your Own Boss to Be Successful

Let’s bust a myth: You don’t have to quit your day job and launch a company to call yourself successful. There’s this whole “start-your-own-gig-or-bust” idea floating around, but let’s talk Steve Ballmer for a second.

The guy didn’t start Microsoft—that was Bill Gates’ baby. Ballmer joined early, climbed the ladder, and eventually took over as CEO. And guess what? He’s made more money from Microsoft than Gates himself.

Let me say that again because there was some background noise as I typed that: as an employee, Ballmer raked in more dough than the damn founder.

Success, for Ballmer, wasn’t about launching a brand-new company. It was about making a massive impact within a powerhouse and building on someone else’s foundation. The dude’s rolling in billions now.

Not too shabby for a guy who didn’t “found” his own thing, right?

Chase What You Value, Not What the World Says You Should

One of the worst traps? Letting someone else’s idea of success become your own.

Maybe for you, it’s not about dollars in the bank—it’s about the freedom to work remotely, spend time with family, or jet off on random road trips whenever you feel like it. Or maybe it is about the money, but only because it buys you the time to do what you actually love.

Don’t waste your life chasing a vision that doesn’t mean a damn thing to you.

Ever heard of the Mexican Fisherman story? I wrote about it in a previous post, Here’s the gist: an investment banker on vacation in Mexico sees a local fisherman bringing in a small catch bright and early one day. He tells the fisherman he should expand his business, hire a crew, build an empire, then eventually sell it all for millions. And the end game? Retire, move to a beach, and spend his days fishing—basically, what the fisherman was already doing.

Success, for the fisherman, wasn’t about endless growth; it was about living a damn good life.

Both the banker and the fisherman thought they knew what success was, but one was already living it, and the other was on vacation trying to figure it out.

Define Success on Your Terms, Not in Dollars Alone

Real success isn’t just about hitting some magic number in your bank account. It’s about feeling fulfilled, living in line with your values, and making choices that bring peace, not stress.

Sure, money can be part of it—hell, it can make a lot of things easier—but it shouldn’t be the only thing. If you’re grinding away for a pile of cash but don’t have the time, relationships, or health to enjoy it, is that really success? Probably not.

Think about what you want your life to look like day-to-day. Define success as the stuff you want to experience regularly. Is it peace of mind? Adventure? Family dinners every night? Whatever it is, let that be the core of your definition, not just a dollar sign.

Success Takes Time—A lot of it

Here’s another truth: success takes time. And usually way longer than we expect.

We live in a world where people love to flex their “overnight” success stories, but that’s mostly smoke and mirrors. What they don’t show you are the years of hard work, failed experiments, and late nights wondering if they’ve lost their minds.

So if you’re grinding and it feels like forever, hang in there. The journey isn’t glamorous, but it’s part of what makes the endgame so rewarding.

Crafting Your Own Success Blueprint

Alright, time to get practical. If you’re going to define success on your terms, you’ve gotta create a game plan—a blueprint that’s yours. Winging it can only take you so far. Here’s a breakdown for creating a “Success Blueprint” that actually fits you.

1. Identify Your Strengths: What are you bringing to the table? I’m talking about skills, talents, the stuff that comes naturally to you and makes you stand out. Own what you’re good at, and don’t downplay it. Whether it’s leadership, creativity, problem-solving, or being the person everyone wants on their team, amplify what you’re already good at.
2. Define Your Core Values: Next up, get real about your values. This is about more than making money or climbing the ladder—it’s about what actually matters to you. Freedom, stability, family time, personal growth? Think about the legacy you want to leave behind. Your values act like a compass, steering you toward choices that feel right, not just look good on paper.
3. Set Realistic Goals That Get You Fired Up: Now that you know your strengths and values, it’s time to set some goals. Here’s the kicker—make sure they actually excite you. Set targets that line up with your strengths and values, so every step forward feels like progress, not a chore.
4. Choose Your Path: Finally, decide on your route. Whether you’re aiming for a top spot in a company, freelancing, or building your own business, make sure it aligns with your personal definition of success. There’s no “right” way to get there, only the way that fits you.

When you’ve got this blueprint in place, every move you make is just another step closer to the life you’re actually excited to live.

You’re the One Who Gets to Decide What Counts as “Making It”

At the end of the day, you’re the only one who gets to decide if you’re successful. Not society, not your family, not even your bank account.

When you start defining success on your own terms, suddenly it’s not this mountain you have to climb. It’s more like a path you’re choosing to walk, one step at a time, and every step counts.

So here’s my challenge to you: take a minute to think about what you want. Not what you think you should want or what looks impressive on paper. What actually lights you up, makes you feel alive, and lets you sleep easy at night?

If that means hustling to the top of the corporate ladder, cool. If it means taking it easy, working part-time, and hanging with your family, that’s awesome too. The beauty of success is that it’s yours to define, mold, and chase however the hell you want.

And when you own your version of success, you’re not just achieving—you’re living life on your terms. That’s true freedom, and in my book, that’s really what we’re here for.