To me, being successful means...
Showing up to something you love and making the world a bit of a better place.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think it was more about money and material things, but now I think your success in life has a lot more to do with following your inner voice.
To me, being successful means...
Actually doing what you want to do, and doing it well
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to care more about society's version of success. Which usually involves earning lots of money or doing something prestigious
To me, being successful means...
A loving family, rewarding work and a comfortable existence.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Used to be all about money.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy!
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to focus on career as an indicator for success, but I now realize mental health well being is just as (if not more) important than career goals
To me, being successful means...
being a happy and productive citizen of the world.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was dictated by the brand names that made it onto your resume. Letting go of those expectations for myself was the most productive decision I have ever made.
To me, being successful means...
Happy. Creative fulfillment.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Accomplishing the goals I set out for myself. These change over time, but they more or less always point to building a career in an industry I am interested in and enjoy (so that working won't feel like "work"), having emotionally satisfying and rewarding relationships, and consistently working to improve my life as well as the lives of those around me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to believe success was numbers-based (grades, scores, salaries, etc). Numbers don't tell a story, though.
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...
Being happy and content and enjoying life, living it to its fullest. Being able to relax if just for a moment and reflect on what I have, small or large, and feeling good about the choices I've made. It's about being grateful and being successful in LIFE, not necessarily a career. And life, to me, is not work.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
I assume that when I was younger (child/teen) I thought money meant success but I don't clearly recall any feelings one way or the other. It was hard to get away from seeing the wealth in Palo Alto and seeing what we did "not have" relative to others, in terms of material objects. My family and my friends' families were not rich and we lived in a neighborhood where grand homes, careers and money weren't flaunted and weren't a driving force. We didn't have as much as others but that was OK. My mom and dad did not espouse the idea that money equals success so in turn I was not raised to believe this. I am grateful for that and recognize the gift of growing up in PA and being comfortable and safe, while at the same time recognize that we were in a bubble and our perspectives are skewed because of that.
To me, being successful means...
knowing myself and being able to apply my strengths and talents to make a difference in the world. it also means having a few good friends and a loving family.
My definition of success has changed over time.
when i was in high school, i pretty much defined success as being able to get good grades and get into a good / top college.
To me, being successful means...
Experiencing life
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think I was a failure or didn't measure up to what was expected of me because I didn't have the prestigious career or college under my belt. What I learned was I actually got to live life and see what the world had to offer and in that, I grew and became a better person.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with what you are doing.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I'm less interested in quantitative metrics of success and I focus more on the intangible measures.
To me, being successful means...
Making a positive difference in the world so that it's at least a little better when you left it than when you entered it.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition of success is much less oriented towards personal achievement now than it was when I was, say, in high school.
To me, being successful means...
I have not achieved these yet, but its what I picture. Relying as little on material wealth as possible. Having a few close friends, not many virtual friends. Feeling like a part of a community.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Ive come to accept that the ingredients for success do not follow a formula (i.e. college, marriage, children, owning a home etc.)
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...
Being happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think success was based off money and position within society/job. I look at it now as a feeling. You are successful if you are content with the stage in life you are at without comparison to others
To me, being successful means...
Being true to myself -- all the time. Most of the time, this is easy, but in the times when it matters most, it tends to be hard.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to immediately think of material wealth and popularity when I thought about success. Now, I think about the quality, not quantity, of relationships I have and about the things I feel proud of doing in my life.
To me, being successful means...
Feeling proud of the work I have done and always making the morally correct choice--being the better person even when it's easy not to.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to define success as accomplishments--tangible things I could point to. It turned out once I accomplished something I was most proud of all the hard work that had gotten me there, not of the accomplishment itself.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with what I do on a day-to-day basis.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was in high school, I thought that success meant working in a white collar professional capacity, having power and money, and exotic adventures and participating in art on the side.
To me, being successful means...
- being completely satisfied with yourself
- gaining the respect and admiration of others
My definition of success has changed over time.
I use to think success was comparison--how much MORE money would I have compared to my peers, what position would I be in my position at a corporate job, how quickly can I climb this ladder and become someone else's boss. Now, my definition of success is more focused on myself than others. The respect of other people is still important to me, but its weight is fading.
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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