I was asked about success in entrepreneurship today, and it got me thinking. Business success is something that’s chased so aggressively, yet very little thought is put into defining success. One of my goals as a personal development coach is to encourage you to write your own dictionaries so you can build a successful, fulfilling, and authentic life – see, there’s that “success” word again!

 

While I absolutely think you need to define success in your own life, I thought I’d share my comments on success in my life and in my business. These are my responses to the questions I was asked, so since it’s appearing on my own blog, it’s like I interviewed myself. 🙂 Agree with it, disregard it, or use it as a foundation for defining success in your own life.

 

 

How do you define success? Why is this your definition?

I define success as, quite simply, whether I achieved my goals. I have very specific, quantitative goals, so it’s easy for me to see whether I’ve achieved them. I have this definition of success because it allows me to problem-solve and make clear decisions in my business when something isn’t quite right and to really know when to pop the champagne cork and celebrate when something was exactly right. There’s a lot of murkiness in business as to whether a concept or strategy will work or flop, so having success be so clear-cut is important to me.

 

What are the keys to business success?

First of all, it’s important to note that I believe that every business can be successful. Some keys to ensure that success are having a “why” so powerful that you’re willing to work around a million and one challenges that get in your way and having the advice and guidance of a mentor or coach who’s done it before you. No matter how smart you are, you can’t figure it all out on your own in one lifetime, and even if you could, you’d waste an incredible amount of time doing so. Another key to success is making sure that you’re taking care of you, both in terms of frequent self-care and constant personal development. Your business can’t grow if you don’t, and it certainly can’t grow if you’re running yourself into the ground to make it happen.

 

How do you know when your business is successful?

This is such an individual definition. For me, like I said, it’s if I hit the specific goals I’ve set for myself. On a more general note, though, a common marker is when you’re fulfilled in your work and when your work provides enough for your financially.

 

What are some things that can make or break a business?

Being inflexible and unwilling to invest time or money into yourself and business can make or break a business. Note how these are the exact opposites to the keys to success I outlined above. I’d also say that allowing the doubts and criticisms of others to infest your mind is a surefire way to fail. You have to be so confident that you’re on the right path and that your business can become a success that it doesn’t even matter what other people think. Sure, you can learn that something isn’t right for you and change accordingly – this is where that flexibility piece comes in – but if you’re always going with what other people say and suggest, you’ll never make it.

 

 

What are your best tips for ensuring success?

Honestly, my biggest tip is to just keep going. If you know exactly what business you want to run and why you want to be a business owner, just keep rolling with the punches. You’ll have to work through fear and failure over and over to reach success, but that success you’re dreaming of will only come to those who keep pushing through.

 

Do you have a business that you look to as an example of success? If so, why?

I really look to Rachel Hollis as an example of success. She’s financially successful and she has a huge and loyal audience, but she’s also passionate about her work, impacting millions of people, and she always looks so dang happy. I’m certain that that’s not always the case, as she’s human, too, but being able to be that financially secure, that happy, and that inspiring makes her a real role model of mine.

 

Final thoughts…

The most important thought I can add is that everyone needs to take time to think about what success means to them, as I said above. Yes, look it up in the dictionary and yes, read the definitions I’ve given here, but take some time to define what it means to you. It can be something completely different than anyone else, but if you’re always working toward the societal definition, you’ll never reach that level of fulfillment that comes when you’ve achieved your authentic success.

 

Let me know on Facebook — how do you define success in your own life and business?