Harmony17

/ Foothill Park/

To me, being successful means...
Being self aware and kind to those around you and yourself. Do the best you can do in each phase of your life. Understand that you will make mistakes--everyone does--and somehow, it all works out right eventually.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
When I was a [high school name omitted] student, I thought that grades, getting into a great school, having a lot of friends and an active social life was success. Then after I graduated from a great university and earned my law degree, I thought success meant landing a lucrative position in a prestigious law firm and making a lot of money. Now, I think that success means to be the best "you." It may sound like a cliche, but each person is unique and valuable and there is no one else like you. Know this and embrace this. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't be so preoccupied about what people think about you. It's none of your business. Only care about what you think of yourself. Life your life and treat people in such a way that you can respect yourself without regrets.

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Traditional and predictable career path; still no easy answers.

/ The Stanford Hills/

To me, being successful means...
Finding fulfillment in whatever it is I spend most of my time doing, be that work, a hobby, or spending time with my family. Success is being happy in MY life, as it is, not as I imagined it or want it to be.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
My view has shifted much more towards internal feelings of fulfillment, rather than external markers. I'm not sure that I would have identified my definition as based on external markers in the past, but as I get older and learn more about myself, I realize that that really was the standard. Graduation, grades, job title, specific tangible achievements. I am working towards bringing the focus around to my internal feeling of satisfaction.

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An arranger and a relator who loves to take projects from good to great.

/ /

To me, being successful means...
Looking back at an experience and feeling satisfied with what I have put in and what I have gotten out of it.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
When you are just starting out, school and careers seems to be the most important areas to focus on. Now it's all about my relationships.

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Whatever

/ The border as you transition into the next town/

To me, being successful means...
Happy and financially strong

My definition of success has not changed over time. 

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I Never Fit the Palo Alto "Mold!"

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To me, being successful means...
Feeling inspired and surrounded by love and support. If I can lay down at the end of every day and know that I am following my heart, however hard the journey, then my life is a success.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Growing up, in Palo Alto, especially, I really thought that the only positive or desired future was one with wealth, and even some amount of fame. I didn't see another option for happiness.

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Successful despite some early challenges in life

/ I love all the parks in Palo Alto./

To me, being successful means...
Being happy, providing for your family, having the things you need, and being able to have some of things you want.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
After getting married and having kids family vs. just work became part of my view on success. Over time I saw happiness as part of the equation as well. 

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Athlete turned Entrepreneur and Filmaker

/ Middlefield Ball Park/

To me, being successful means...
Setting goals for yourself and going after them with all that you have

My definition of success has changed over time. 

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Authenticity or Bust!

/ The quarry after dark (in the foothills)/

To me, being successful means...
Having a job that matches your values, relationships that are positive and authentic, and knowing yourself to know what you want out of life and will not put up with.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Even as recently as 5 years ago I was convinced that people earning more money than me were more successful and talented. It took a few years in the corporate world to realize that even though I may not earn as much cash in my nonprofit job, the rewards and uses of my talents are much more important.

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Ecosystems and art

/ The foothills/

To me, being successful means...
Spiritual bliss. Knowing yourself.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I used to care more about external measures of success like career. I still do but it's less pointed. I give more credence to the inner experience while worrying less about others' opinions about career tracks. Nonetheless, I do notice that how people see your worth does depend on external measures.

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Finding Balance and Gratitude

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To me, being successful means...
being able to take care of myself and my family. While having a stable job and housing are important, it has also been very important to me to maintain a balance of free time to spend time outside and connect with friends and family.

My definition of success has not changed over time.  

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Be present, live each moment to the fullest and be compassionate to yourself and others

/ Caffe Verona (now Reposado)/

To me, being successful means...
To me, being successful means feeling fulfilled and happy personally and professionally on a daily basis. It means having accomplished my goals but also making the most of each opportunity I had.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
When I was leaving undergrad and starting my first job, success in my mind was all around professional success. Getting into a top notch well known consulting firm, being able to work with exciting clients and lots of business travel. But after three years of doing that, I was completely exhausted and realized that success wasn't about the job title or about the company or career ladder. It was about something more than that, something more fundamental to who I wanted to be and the kind of life I wanted to live.

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Be the change you wish to see in the world.

/ Heritage Park/

To me, being successful means...
Helping others while reaching my own goals. 

My definition of success has not changed over time. 

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Being an adult is SO MUCH EASIER than high school

/ Hobee's/

To me, being successful means...
Having meaningful relationships and doing work that matters to me.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
In high school I thought success was about amassing friends. Now I don't care very much about how many friends I have. I just care about how much fun we have together and how well we support each other. When I was a freshman at [high school name omitted], I was feeling really stressed socially. My [junior high school name omitted] friends were angry with me because they thought I was trying to be popular. I told my mom, "It takes so much effort to be cool, have fun, and be nice." She said, "Why don't you just have fun and be nice?" That didn't feel like an option. Now that I'm in my mid-thirties I follow my mom's advice. Friendships are a lot less intense and stressful.

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A friend from the Class of 1997

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To me, being successful means...
...living a loving life and enjoying the journey. This is done by letting my goals and dreams inspire me, never being stagnant, being humble when I come across challenges, learning from these challenges, keeping my mind interested with knowledge and also having time to stop and enjoy it all!

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Experience, time, unforeseen and unpredictable events changes our perspectives and leads us onto new paths. Then, our definition of success changes and becomes less finite.

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Life is short -- enjoy and keep learning and experiencing new things.

/ Main Library/

To me, being successful means...
Doing what you want to do and having a good balance between work, family and life.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
It used to be focused only on work success, now it is more holistic.

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