“Favorable or desired outcome; also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence”, is the official “Merriam-Webster” definition of success. While we all know the denoted meaning of the word, success, in reality, each of us has own view of how it fits into our lives.
Success is a state of being for which we all strive; whether on a personal or professional level. In fact, a great portion of our modern society is measured according to certain success markers. How well is the economy doing? Well, its success often translates into victory for the rest of us. It seems everything is measured on the quality of our accomplishments, whether we had control over them or not. Yet, how we measure our own success is often a very personal goal which varies from one individual to the next.
Defining personal success
To some, having expensive high-end clothing or a flashy car means they have obtained success, while another may place more value on putting their children through college. In both cases, these individuals must put in the hours and effort to achieve the financial success it takes to afford either.
It is the goals and challenges that we set for ourselves – and how we choose to conquer them – that sets the precedence for our own future successes. Additionally, we must establish a plan to maintain motivation to the end and beyond. As humans, we are creatures of habit, and breaking past our comfort zones can be a challenge within itself.
If the goal is to find a new job in a different industry, what will motivate you to seek that position? Money and benefits are two of the biggest incentives, but finding what ultimately drives you to succeed is what will help you achieve your goal in the end.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment,” Jim Rohn, American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker.
Set an objective and plans for reaching your targets. It is okay to have lofty goals; just make sure that the steps taken to achieve those goals are reasonable, otherwise you may be setting yourself up for disappointment and even failure.
Related: Why Failure Breeds Success
Separation in personal and professional life
The first factor that must be made abundantly clear is that once balance is achieved, fulfillment often comes naturally and effortlessly.
Yet, it seems the balance portion of the equation is perhaps the most difficult to accomplish. To obtain that promotion you have been eying, you will likely have to work very hard, putting in overtime hours and going above and beyond your normal output level. Sacrifices will be made, especially when it comes to your personal life and time spent with family and friends. So, while you’re climbing the professional ladder, other areas of your life may typically be put on the proverbial “back burner”.
Yet, this does not mean one must completely sacrifice one aspect for the other. The key to finding the right amount of balance between your professional and personal life is being able to properly separate the two. A great portion of this has to do with focusing on the present and tuning out everything unrelated to your current setting.
Start by actually being at home when you are at home. In other words, put all business aside and concentrate on spending time with loved ones, watching television, cleaning house, cooking, or any hobbies you enjoy. Do not check your work emails or take calls from co-workers, if at all possible.
The same is true for when you are at the office. Your concentration should be on your work and professional goals, and not what friends and family members may be doing. Try not to ponder all of the aspects of your life that you would likely need to deal with at home, or other personally related items.
Of course, there may be unavoidable overlaps. For instance, notice of an unexpected home repair while you’re in the office or a production issue that warrants an evening call at home can cause your worlds to unsuspectingly intersect. However, Information Technologist and Mentor/Advocate of Professional and Organization Development, Gerry Mann, suggests dealing with these “spillovers” by keeping an eye on the life/work balance that you are comfortable with. He continues, “If the fulcrum moves too far in one direction or the other, it’s up to me to move it back. There are plenty of external sources of feedback to help me understand when that happens, if I don’t recognize it right away.”
Conclusion
Separation is the key to finding the right amount of balance within your professional and personal lives. They are essentially two different worlds, and should be treated as such. Also, remember that success is measured individually, as you are in charge of deciding what constitutes your success and setting goals to achieve it.
“Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure,” George Edward Woodberry, American literary critic and poet
Stewart, Cooper & Coon, has helped thousands of decision makers and senior executives move up in their careers and achieve significantly improved financial packages within short time frames. Contact Fred Coon – 866-883-4200, Ext. 200