To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Growing up you are programmed that success is being educated to get a good job, marriage and nice house, money for vacations...living the American dream. However, if you are not happy your success means nothing to you.
To me, being successful means...
Feeling fulfilled with the decisions you have made to have gotten to where you are today.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be about money and title.
To me, being successful means...
Not settling for what is “automatic/expected/the norm” but actively participating in shaping your outcome and the outcome of your work.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I just assumed that I would continue on the track I was on and gain success that way, and even though I have I am not satisfied with the environment or how I arrived at the decision, so I am changing it.
To me, being successful means...
Living and loving on my own terms, within my means in the company of beloved family and friends.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My worth as a human being is no longer defined by my work, my employer, my income, my college "pedigree," or even having grown up in Palo Alto.
To me, being successful means...
Striving to do the best at whatever I do. Leading a positive example for/and watching my children grow up to be good people.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Survive and be active
My definition of success has changed over time.
I don't have to be famous! I don't have to be rich!
To me, being successful means...
Living an authentic life where I can be myself, am appreciated for what I can contribute and where I can love and be loved.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I was concerned about how my career would afford me a certain lifestyle, based on how I was raised in affluent Palo Alto. Now I focus on how I can contribute to a mission I care deeply about and work-life balance.
To me, being successful means...
Pursuing a life that makes me happy. Having balance with my work life, social life, and relationship with myself. Being able to afford my independence.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was based on more tangible identifiers. Such as my degree, my car, my job status, whether I was still asking my mom for money. Now I look at it in a broader more wholistic lens.
To me, being successful means...
accepting myself as an imperfect being, feeling strong and energized in my body, and cultivating healthy, mutually respectful relationships.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be more about quantity, like number of friends, amount paid, amount of influence, how well known I am. Now it's become more about the quality of my work and relationships -- noticing what nourishes me and what drains me, and making decisions about my life accordingly.
To me, being successful means...
Being able to take pride in what you've made of your life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Although the core of my own idea of success hasn't changed, it has been a difficult and continuing struggle to keep my sense of accomplishment separate from parental expectations. You'd think at 40 it would be easier to look your parents in the eye and not be sorry for having chosen a path that doesn't involve marrying a person wealthy by inheritance or profession in order to secure a pampered and indolent life for oneself and one's offspring, but...in my experience, parents don't change. I had to build yourself the protective space I needed to keep myself from wishing I had never been born.
To me, being successful means...
never giving up on oneself and learning lessons from failures as much or more than accomplishments
My definition of success has changed over time.
As a young person/adult, I thought success was measured by achievements and milestones (eg. getting a degree, securing a job, owning property, getting married, and having children). Life taught me it's not about the what that made my life fulfilling, but the who and why. The relationships and personal connections (fleeting as well as enduring) that I made helped shaped the way I viewed as well as moved in the world. Learning to savor and value the experience of my journey than impatiently focused on reaching my destination.
To me, being successful means...
Engaging in work that is meaningful to you; work that you feel makes a positive impact on others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think my work or position as a "successful person" could only be so if there was a tangibly measurable output.
To me, being successful means...
Loving life and being able to encourage and provide for others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It is less of a material target and more of an attitude or state of being.
To me, being successful means...
Giving back to the community. Sharing wisdom to be a positive influence.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I started adulthood financially driven. I had monetary success early on. As I grow older, money and things don't matter as much as experiencing life.
To me, being successful means...
A loving family, good friends, good health, financial security, a positive attitude, enjoying life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Yes and no. I believe these goals were always there, just not articulated in my consciousness earlier in life.
To me, being successful means...
Having a life that glorifies God, that shows how He is working in you and through you to help others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Some things that I first thought would be failures were really part of the path toward a success in helping others.
To me, being successful means...
being able to enjoy your life where you currently are, and reflect on how your previous "lives" made you the person you are today
My definition of success has changed over time.
It changed from "I've always wanted to work at this company." to "I want a job which utilizes all my job skills" to "A balance between family time and work time."
To me, being successful means...
Being able to take care of myself and those I love, and feeling happy with my life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It's so much broader than I ever could have imagined it growing up.
To me, being successful means...
Finding a job that healthily challenges me and that I enjoy (it doesn't have to be something that I have a burning passion for), that works with my schedule and lifestyle so that I can still take care of my mental and physical health. That's very important to me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My previous definitions of success hardly incorporated failure. I avoided failure like the plague, which in turn actually inhibited me from truly succeeding. I avoided taking certain risks that would have challenged me in a healthy way, had I succeeded or failed. I now understand that failure is both inevitable and necessary to be true to your dreams and goals , and succeed.
To me, being successful means...
Happiness, finding your place in society, knowing who you are and what you want for your own life.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I thought success was money (income).
This is a collection of anonymous life and career stories from Palo Alto alumni for everyone. They shatter the myth that there is only one path to success.
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