We are always looking at people far along in their careers and wondering how they became successful. We‘re so focused on another person’s version of success, that we forget to realize that we have our own version of success as well.
For far too long, we’ve been taught to follow a path that’s already been done by others for years and years. Instead of being taught to be bold and different, we’re taught to follow a cookie cutter approach to success that most of us never questioned — until now.
It’s time to eliminate these 6 misconceptions:
1. You need to make a lot of money to be successful.
Success has nothing to do with money. Everyone has a different definition of success. Success isn’t defined by how much you make — It’s defined as an accomplishment or fulfillment of your purpose.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” — Maya Angelou
Some define success as having the ability to travel and see the world, whereas others define success as being able to help people in need.
As human beings, we each have a purpose for why we are here and what we can bring in to this world. That’s why in order to be successful, we must aim to define our own version of success.
2. Successful people don’t make mistakes and they don’t fail.
This is completely untrue. People make mistakes and fail. We all do it. Ask any “successful” person out there.
I have many friends that are currently changing their careers, but feel like they’ve made a mistake about their career choices in the past. In reality, those former experiences provided them with the knowledge and opportunity on how to approach their next career choice. Think of it as narrowing down your choices from those past experiences — With each new choice comes a new experience.
Thomas Edison once said “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Success is finding ways that do work, but appreciating and acknowledging the ways that didn’t work. They shouldn’t be called mistakes — They should be called learning opportunities. We’ve all had our highs and lows of experiences, but those highs wouldn’t happen if there weren’t any lows.
3. People who are successful work long and endless hours.
Successful people don’t attach a number of hours to success. The amount of hours you work shouldn’t be part of how successful you are. Someone might work 25 hours a week and feel just as successful as someone who works 60 hours a week. It all comes down to doing what excites and fulfills you.
One of my colleagues works at a company that has them working over 60 hours a week. I have another colleague that’s working only 35 hours a week and feels just as successful.
The concept of time isn’t what equates to success. Success comes from the reward of feeling accomplished, regardless of how long it takes.
4. There’s only one path to success.
There’s always this thought that we should be following the footsteps of someone we know that is already successful. I always looked at professionals ahead of me and would think…
“Look — They’re a successful Senior Vice President at Google! Let me see their LinkedIn profile and see how they got to where they are now so that I can do the same.”
Following someone else’s footsteps isn’t how it works anymore. We work in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world now — The workforce is constantly changing. We need minds that are ready for adversity and innovation. You no longer need to be in the same type of job or industry for 25 years to become a successful executive. Nowadays, your experiences are what make you qualified for a job, not the years.
When I was recruiting at DreamWorks Animation, I remember looking at resumes and seeing each candidate’s experience as an opportunity or new perspective that could shake up the norms and innovate the organization. Companies should not be looking for how long you’ve done something — They should be looking for WHAT you’ve done, HOW you did it, and HOW you can do it at their company.
That’s why everyone’s path to success is different. There are many ways to become a successful executive now and companies need to start catching on.
5. I’ll be happier when I’m successful.
Success isn’t a destination. Success is a feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment. Success grows as you grow. Being happier comes from the experience and journey as you are working towards being more successful.
I’ve told myself so many times, “I can’t wait to be successful and happy one day.” I was working so hard for it and then came to the realization that I could feel that way now if I wanted to. How?
Successes come in all shapes and sizes; small, medium, large — you name it. I can’t stress enough how important it is to recognize and celebrate your successes that occur throughout your journey. Take ownership and acknowledge your own accomplishments and celebrate them to feel successful and happier.
6. You need to follow the rules and do what you’re told to be successful.
Success doesn’t have rules. Success has attributes and characteristics, but it doesn’t have rules. This type of thinking comes from people who want to play it safe. The truth is, there are many ways to be successful, but it’s usually when you divert from the normal path and create your own.
Again — You define success in your own way and need to make the rules based on what you personally value. Just like how success doesn’t have one single definition, it doesn’t have a specific set of rules you must follow either.
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Thanks for reading!