Throughout my career identifying, advising, and developing executive talent, I've worked with thousands of people at different stages of their professional journeys. And I've observed something about success that has remained remarkably consistent:
To achieve success, define it with a purpose.
What Kind of Journey Are You On?
I've observed two very different experiences among people pursuing professional success.
Some are working toward a specific goal with a greater purpose that motivates and fulfills them. Others are pursuing goals they've set for themselves, but without a clear understanding of why those goals matter or what achieving them will ultimately make possible.
The distinction isn't necessarily their ambition, capability, or even their accomplishments. It's the experience they have along the way.
When you're working toward a goal or vision you've intentionally defined for yourself, there's a greater purpose behind it. That doesn't mean the journey is easy. You'll still encounter bumps in the road, difficult decisions, and the occasional bad day. But those challenges don't necessarily deter you from the bigger picture.
Without that sense of purpose, the experience can be very different.
You may have a goal in mind, but you've never fully considered the meaning behind it. When you encounter enough obstacles, doubt begins to creep in. You start questioning your decisions, your direction, and sometimes whether the goal was worth pursuing in the first place.
At some point in your life or career, you may hear yourself thinking some variation of:
I feel stuck.
Or stagnant. Unhappy. Not where I thought I'd be by now. Lost.
And eventually, the question becomes:
What should I do next?
Is Your Career Path Lit by a Clear Vision?
When you're working toward a purpose-inspired goal or vision for your career, the options and choices along the way tend to become clearer.
You have a map. You have a direction. You have the motivation to develop the capabilities and acquire the tools that will help you move forward.
And often, what lies at the finish line is another path, one that presents a new opportunity or a different destination.
Whether you reach the original finish line or discover a new one along the way, the journey itself can be deeply fulfilling because you understand why you're on it.
You'll encounter obstacles. You'll make questionable choices. You may even change direction. But you're doing so with a greater sense of purpose.
When your goal lacks that purpose, the path can feel much less certain.
Even when you achieve what you set out to accomplish, you may find yourself wondering why it doesn't feel as satisfying as you expected.
The next opportunity looks enticing. The next title, the next role, the next milestone. But once you get there, the experience begins to feel familiar.
You're moving forward, at least by conventional measures, but you may feel as though you're running on a hamster wheel.
This doesn't mean you've made the wrong choices or that your accomplishments lack value. It may simply mean you haven't taken the time to consider what success actually means to you.
And that's where the opportunity lies.
What Is Your Definition of Success?
Think about your own journey.
Are you working toward a purposeful goal or vision? Or are you pursuing a destination without being entirely clear about why you want to get there?
When you think about your personal definition of success, what comes to mind?
What does that definition of success make possible for you?
Why is that important to you?
As you consider what you want to experience through your career, be honest with yourself about what matters.
Not what you think should matter.
Not what someone else has accomplished.
Not what others might expect you to want.
What matters to you?
Your definition of success is unique to you.
Many people look to others for a roadmap. It might sound something like this:
I see how that person lives and works. I know I could do that. I want that life and that job. That person has it all.
But the person who seemingly has it all is on their own journey. They have their own goals, their own plans, and their own struggles.
Their journey has nothing to do with yours.
You can admire someone else's accomplishments, learn from their experiences, and even aspire to similar opportunities. But their definition of success doesn't have to become yours.
The way to get on your own path to success is to define what it means for you.
Now, go ahead. Define success.
A Few Final Thoughts
If you're on a path that feels meaningful to you, you probably recognize it.
There will be difficult days, but they don't necessarily deter you. Sometimes those are the very experiences that challenge you to grow, reconsider your approach, or strengthen your resolve.
You're doing meaningful work. You're learning from setbacks. You're developing capabilities and discovering what's possible.
And you understand why the journey matters.
Throughout my career, I've coached and counseled thousands of people as they've considered what success looks like for them. What I've learned is that people often have more of the answers within themselves than they realize. Sometimes they need the right questions, a different perspective, or the courage to take the next step.
Success, for me, is supporting high-performing people who seek to make a greater impact through their leadership and in the lives of those around them.
That's my definition.
What's yours?