Why You Got Success All Wrong
and what to do instead to make 2022 the most successful year yet
For years now, gurus have been promoting working hard as a sustainable long-term strategy that will help you succeed. The whole idea behind working hard using pure willpower to get a result is offering you only half the equation. But there is a missing component to get the success you desire, and working harder to the point of killing yourself isn’t the only way to be successful.
Because, if you are already maxed out, overworked, or even burned out, how can adding more things to your already overflowing plate make things better? It’s destined to fail! The truth? It is never going to work!
But what do you do if you still want more? More reach? More impact? More success? And a better work-life balance, for you and/or your team? Then this article is for you.
Success is almost always measured in quantities; the amount of turnover, goals hit, targets completed, or how much money you have in your bank account. However, being successful and FEELING successful are two completely different concepts.
My clients come from different backgrounds, have different size companies, and experience different challenges to overcome (race, gender, disability). However, they do have one thing in common; even though they are considered to be a success by society’s standards, they do not FEEL like they are a success within.
If you want a bigger impact and get to that next level, just like them, there are different fundamental elements that you need to shift so you can take your business to the next level.
You may experience fear of failure or fear of success. You can feel like an imposter, or think: “who am I to want that?!” It is completely normal to think these thoughts (and they are certainly not limited to) when working on creating the next level for yourself.
That’s why it is KEY to ask yourself what success means to you. What makes you successful? What makes your team successful? If your team has a 60% annually turnout rate, for example, but you hit all the financial goals, I am here to tell you, you got success wrong.
Success does not have to come at the expense of health or your relationships.
If people are so burned out they have to leave, it is time to redefine a more (cost-effective) way of success. Why? Because when you shift these fundamental beliefs around success, you will create more of what you desire. This means less stress-related health and turnover costs and more profit! Which is good for you, your team and the business.
If you want to know your unique business success blueprint, I invite you to take my quiz to help you uncover your hidden blocks and unlock your personalised path to success without sacrifice!
But what are the biggest myths about the success you may be experiencing yourself? Let me share the three main beliefs I come across during my (corporate) workshops and/or with my private clients.
#1. Success isn’t measured by others.
The definition of success varies from culture to culture, but generally speaking, it is the number in the bank, the number of cars you own, or the number of social media followers you’ve got that make you rank at the top of most successful or influential people on the planet.
However, the thing is that — even with the pressure of the society we live in — no one else can decide for you what makes you a success. Or in other words, success isn’t measured by others, and it is measured by you. If you feel like hitting certain targets is the only way to be a successful person, then that’s the way it will be.
It’s important to redefine success if you are ready to grow your business and have the impact you desire. Unfortunately, if you tie your self-worth in with certain conditional experiences, it can make you feel like you are never good enough, no matter how hard you try. Why? Because this universe is designed to give you what you want, but if you are chasing after someone else’s beliefs or standards, you will never feel like you are a success.
Come up with your definition of success for your business, your personal life, your family life etc., instead.
I hate to break it to you, eventually you are going to hit a breaking point because this is a battle you cannot win.
2. Success is not the goal.
How many times do you see these goal-driven slogans and advertisements encouraging you to work until you drop? The hustle, the grind, and hard work will pay off mentality is a very damaging strategy for your business and you as a person long-term. Working hard will give you some results, but what you can achieve is limited to the number of hours you can put in.
These goals will give you a temporary fix until you move on to the next, and the next and the next. It is a constant high and low of proving yourself, and it can leave you feeling tired, drained, and overwhelmed at best.
Often, when working with my clients, they struggle with depression, and they are self-medicating with things like alcohol to numb the feeling of not feeling good enough. To fixate on the end goal as the only way to be a success creates many unhappy people!
So what if, instead of focussing on the end goal, we break it down into smaller goals and then some. What if you redefine your business’s next level of success to include all areas of your life (spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially). You can still achieve your goals, but you will experience multiple wins each day. This will give you the satisfaction of achieving what you want and allow you to feel good every day.
You don’t have to work yourself into a breakdown to prove you are worthy and dedicated. You are most effective when your cup is full and overflowing!
3. Success is a feeling.
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, being a success and feeling like a success are two completely different concepts. Emotions can range from feeling like an imposter, fear of missing out (FOMO), or feeling disconnected and empty on the inside even though your bank account is suggesting otherwise.
Success is a feeling that comes from within, and no amount of goal setting will shift this on a structural level. If you are ready for more reach, impact, and success, you need to embody this on an energetic level first before this can manifest itself in your existence. However, how you define success is unique, and you cannot find this outside yourself.
The fundamental element of being successful starts with changing how you feel about yourself and the success you are having. And where you want to take it next.
Change how you feel about success. Believe that you can do this, and the rest will follow
There is nothing wrong with doing what you love and bringing your vision to life, but real success isn’t JUST a number in your bank account. It’s how you feel inside when you look yourself in the eyes in the mirror or the things you tell yourself late at night.
Success can come without sacrifice if you are willing to change how you spend your time and what you were made to believe growing up. These core fundamental elements taken from my award-winning coaching business show that real, sustainable long-term success, wellbeing, health, and wealth start by adopting an all-inclusive work-life balance VISION that serves both you, your family, and your company/companies.
Even though we are made to believe otherwise, you can be successful without sacrificing health, wealth, marriage, or YOU. If you feel inspired by this article and are ready to explore what real, sustainable health and wealth mean to you, your family, your team and the business? Let’s connect. I would love for you to join these amazing and inspiring leaders in our community here.
Workshops with Susanne Grant are an immersive experience where you will learn to:
- Redefine success in the workplace
- Navigate hybrid/remote working effectively
- Reduce stress-related absence, turnover and recruitment costs
- Attract and retain (female) staff who are your biggest fans and strengthen the employer brand
Customised to fit your needs- whether remote or in-person, from a one-hour overview to a six-week intensive. T&C apply.
Message Susanne Grant via Linkedin for more information or click here to talk to Susanne directly.
It is time to work smarter, not harder.
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About FEM
FEM stands for Feminist Entrepreneurs Magazine (or Finally Eradicating Misogyny, if you’re feeling cheeky), and is a House of Hives publication. We started this magazine to support entrepreneurs who feel disenchanted with the 24/7 hustle culture, the competitive narrative of toxic masculinity and narrow definitions of success, value and wealth that it peddles. We want to talk about balance, the importance of mental health, the power of collaboration and diversity, and much more.
We hope to inspire and support entrepreneurs as they build their businesses in enjoyable and sustainable ways, by sharing stories and tips from thought-leaders and change-makers. Join the mailing list to have the FEM e-magazine sent directly to your inbox.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
