To me, being successful means...
fulfilling my purpose in life
My definition of success has changed over time.
Success used to be much more achievement based. I would be "successful" when I checked certain boxes, but realized that's so empty.
To me, being successful means...
To be happy - there will obviously be up and down days, but if you can wake up, feeling happy with where you are in life/your career/your relationship, I think that is success.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Being happy and feeling that your work and life make a difference. It’s also being able to support yourself and your family and having enough money in the bank to take care of emergencies. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to maintain success (i.e., keeping a job with benefits if you’re the one that provides the health insurance). Some people may believe that you should sacrifice the health benefits and follow your passion, but I believe success is being able to support those I love. And I’m female, so I’m not coming from a male breadwinner viewpoint.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think you had to have a high level job to be considered successful. I think you can be successful at any level - but you should live the life you can afford.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Being able to look in the mirror and be happy with the person looking back. It helps to have a secure home and loving family, too. But those are rarely present or quickly flee without the mirror test, so that comes first. Can you be happy looking in the mirror?
My definition of success has changed over time.
I learned that despite popular wisdom success is a group sport. I can't stand people who claim or imply that they "did it all on my own." The more I have scratched the surface of those stories over the years the more I find they are either delusions or outright lies. I recall one person I met years ago telling me how he had created a huge real estate empire entirely on his own, how "no one gave me a thing!" -- starting out with nothing, he insisted. I later learned he had inherited five SF properties from his dad. But he could not admit that. He just had to lie and claim to be a self-made man. What I have learned is that there is no such thing. There are just people who don't or won't recognize the people or situations that helped them.
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...
Being happy and content with who you are and what you do.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Being successful used to mean being accepted by everyone and following the status quo. Looking back, loving life, family and yourself is all that counts and with it comes success in everything one does.
To me, being successful means...
Happy and healthy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Material things don't matter.
To me, being successful means...
Being financially stable doing something that makes you fairly happy doing.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think it was one or the other, financially stable versus being happy with what you are doing, defined success. Since I have come to the conclusion that it's a fair balance of the two.
To me, being successful means...
Happy, healthy and engaged in satisfying work and personal relationships.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Realizing that all those "resume-builders" matter very little in the long run. I spent a long time trying to be the kind of person my parents wanted me to be and used it as an excuse not to do the hard work of figuring out what do do with my life.
To me, being successful means...
First of all being happy in my own skin and content with my own company and using that to make a difference in the world.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I was brought up to become educated and to earn a living and make a great retirement for myself.
To me, being successful means...
Being true to your values. People are much more important than possessions.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I went through a dark period where the acquisition of money and material possessions was most important. In the process, I lost my soul - my spirit. With material things, enough is never enough. I looked inward and realized that my values were being compromised and I was truly unhappy. I returned my focus to an appreciation for people and the earth - I enjoy my days now.
To me, being successful means...
Finding balance, continuing to work toward your priorities -- keep them in sight; your personal well-being should be one of your priorities; learning to know and respect yourself.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Less focused on titles and resume bullets, more focused on well-being and impact on those around me.
To me, being successful means...
achieving YOUR dream and nobody else's!
My definition of success has changed over time.
I've matured. When your young, there's peer pressure to be as good or better than the next student. At [high school name omitted], I wanted to take advanced classes because it was the thing to do, not because I really wanted to do it on my own. Now I do things because I want to...not because it's the cool thing to do!
To me, being successful means...
Finding out what fulfills you over the long term and then persevering through the obstacles and challenges that will present themselves to you. I say "over the long term" because no matter how much you love something, there will be days, weeks that are challenging.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I thought success was a position, an award, an accolade or some other quantifiable thing. Now, I believe that kind of success also has a large element of luck as well. So therein lies the question, is a success that depends on luck really success at all? I'd argue not. Success is tied to your motivations, desires, effort, work, and resiliency. Therefore, success is more about finding a passion and driving forward through obstacles.
To me, being successful means...
Maintaining my happiness.
My definition of success has changed over time.
There is no dollar amount or title that can fulfill my success, which I initially believed. It's a matter of a work life balance that allows me to do the things in life that make me happy.
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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