To me, being successful means...
Being happy with myself and where I am.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Sometimes it's hard to stick to this definition. I constantly want to compare myself to others, but this mindset is helping.
To me, being successful means...
Having enough money to live, having a decent savings account and investments, and doing a job that I'm passionate about.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Being financially independent, making enough money to work less hours, being able to support my hobbies and passions and spend time with my boyfriend and baby.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Success for me was very goal oriented: get good grades, finish high school, then college, then vet school. When I finished college and made the decision not to go to vet school, I was completely stumped about what to do. I then decided to go to grad school, and the goals came back into my life. BUT when I finished grad school... there I was again, unsure what to do next!! In the 7 years since finishing grad school, I have realized what is most important is that I am able to live my life exactly how I want to. I enjoy my work but feel most successful when I am doing the things I love outside of work.
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...
Doing what you love
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo 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...
Finding joy each day in something: be it an action I perform, an interaction with family, friends, colleagues, an experience in nature or a story I hear. Joy is a deep happiness that comes from within which is what makes life meaningful and keeps me grounded despite external conditions. Being happy with what I have, where I am in life and career. I do not base my success on comparisons with others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I now know that success is internal. It is not defined by my outward conditions and materialistic trappings but who I am as a person and a member of society. Success is my own view of fulfilling the destiny life has laid out for me by being true to my beliefs.
To me, being successful means...
The hardest to achieve: to be truly happy and satisfied with life. It's so easy to forget what happiness is as you get older, or you remember a happier part of your life but you can't find a way to get back there. It's all about accepting and loving yourself. Once that happens you make others feel the same way about you, and themselves, and everyone's suddenly happy, and the world seems like a better place.
Success to me also means being able to trust and believe in yourself. I remember the first time I took on a project and I didn't feel anxious about how I was going to get it done. I realized that I was good enough at what I do that, even if the answer didn't come to me quickly, I could fall back on my experience to know it would eventually come if I put more effort in to it. Even when I got laid off from jobs in the past I never doubted myself that I had the skills and talent to always find work.
Lastly, success would be raising my 4 children in to adults that are successful in life themselves.
My definition of success has changed over time.
As a teen, my idea of success was to be known as "great" at whatever I chose to do in life. I would be famous and all the kids in school would see me as some kind of hero. Now, I realize who the heroes really are.
To me, being successful means...
Just staying alive...and being patient and kind, no matter the circumstances.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Success used to mean ongoing access to a cornucopia of interesting possibilities; now it means making it through another day with acceptance, kindness, and understanding.
To me, being successful means...
Success begins when you reach contentment with what you have and who'd you become. Love your life and find meaning in the true journey of life which cannot be controlled.
My definition of success has changed over time.
You cannot find success by constantly comparing your life with the life of others.
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...
A productive life, with as much spare time that I can muster, to spend with my family and friends.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Realizing it is not only important to be productive, but time spent with family & friends is equally important.
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).
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...
Being faithful to the gifts God has given me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
After you retire your career becomes less and less important.
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
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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