What do you believe is important?
/To me, being successful means...
making a difference in other people's lives without requiring credit (even though credit may be due).
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreWhat you appreciate, appreciates…grow love.
/To me, being successful means...
Being free to share my soul and my unique gifts with my community, following my passions.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Not a material measurement
Successful despite some early challenges in life
/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.
Throw Away Your Checklist!
/To me, being successful means...
Living life on my own terms: Living in the now and appreciating family and friends.....Creating my own schedule.....Working in a field that allows me to express my creativity and make my clients happy!
My definition of success has changed over time.
20's to 30's I worked with a mindset to achieve promotions, professional recognition and increasing income. 30's to 40's success was balancing child rearing and working from home 40's to 50's has been appreciating what I have worked on personally and professionally, and being satisfied
This is not your Father's Palo Alto
/To me, being successful means...
Health and being a good friend, a good husband, a good father and a good son. providing a safe environment for my family is my top priority.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be financially based. Money is still critical or a source of stress but a happy and healthy family trumps all else.
Leaving PA
/To me, being successful means...
happiness, both personally and professionally
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreNow Living a Dream I Never Knew I Had
/To me, being successful means...
Doing something that you love so much that it makes you excited to get up every morning!
My definition of success has changed over time.
I didn't see when I was younger that you can't achieve success without passion.
Life is a journey - enjoy with those you love.
/To me, being successful means...
Being self sufficient and happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Less dependent on how I look to others (job, car, house, etc.)
When the Road You Are Supposed to Travel Detours
/To me, being successful means...
Secure in knowing my future, my partner's future, and my kids' futures are going to be happy, fulfilling, and fun!
My definition of success has changed over time.
In my younger years, it was definitely about financial goals: how much money I made a year, what kind of job title I had, I didn't spend my time comparing myself to others, but I was definitely on a path to "race with myself" about achieving certain financial goals before a set time.
Learn about more than they teach you.
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Read MorePalo Alto: Always my favorite place to come home to.
/To me, being successful means...
Experiencing the love of family and friends
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MorePalo Alto was too stifiling, left for country life
/To me, being successful means...
being able to realize goals that help you support yourself in an increasing complicated world, be able to make choices regarding the impact you want to have on the earth's resources, and be able to safe and happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I was able to meet all my career, monetary and lifestyle goals. I was not able to meet all my relationship goals but learned how to be okay with that and think out of the box.
Stay-At-Home parent enjoying a life lived slowly
/To me, being successful means...
Being able to enjoy loving relationships with your family and friends.
My definition of success has changed over time.
As I have gotten older, I have realized more and more that getting good grades and a good paycheck don't have much to do with the quality of interpersonal relationships.
Athlete turned Entrepreneur and Filmaker
/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.
Read MoreAuthenticity or Bust!
/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.
Ecosystems and art
/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.
Finding Balance and Gratitude
/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.
Read MoreBe present, live each moment to the fullest and be compassionate to yourself and others
/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.
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
/To me, being successful means...
Helping others while reaching my own goals.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreBeing an adult is SO MUCH EASIER than high school
/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.
