What does success mean to you?
Many years ago, a friend announced she was envious of an ex-boyfriend. ‘He’s just happy with his lot in life’ she said.
He lived a few minutes away from his parents in the town where he grew up, with no desire to leave. He was doing the same job he’d done all his life, which allowed him to turn his hobby into a successful side hustle. All without the pressure of trying to make it his full-time living.
He was happy and content, having everything he ever wanted.
My friend, however, always wanted more. She was constantly striving and pushing, looking for the next distraction, indulging in her creative passions, attending courses, and learning new skills. Eventually started her own business. But, she was always looking for the next shiny object, something new and exciting to light her up.
There was nothing wrong with my friend, and there was nothing wrong with her ex-boyfriend. They both just had different definitions of success.
Some people associate success with money, status, flashy cars, or achieving goals. While others see it as living off grid in a cabin in the woods.
Being successful is no longer measured by how much money we have or how high up in a company we’ve climbed. Success is based on what’s important to you and will mean something different to everyone.
Success means something different to everyone.
In ‘The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness’, Morgan Housel defines true wealth as ‘To do what you want, when you want, for as long as you want’. He describes this way of living as priceless.
Morgan has a sensible approach to investing and isn’t interested in being filthy rich. He desires to live a comfortable life doing the things that bring him and his wife joy.
Living a comfortable and joyful life is his idea of a wealthy life, and that description really resonated with me.
Whenever I open Instagram or YouTube, someone is advertising a course about how to build a six or seven-figure business or have £10k months. Everything is bigger, better, louder, and faster; six figures are suddenly the number that all business owners should aspire to.
While glossy Instagram grids with people working from a beach hut, bragging about their £10k months might inspire some, it does nothing for me. I don’t care about running a six-figure business.
That’s not my idea of success, and that’s okay.
My version of a wealthy life.
I’m not motivated by money — I don’t desire to be rich. Like Morgan Housel, I want to live comfortably and within my means, doing the things that bring my husband and me joy. It means living slower — on purpose and more mindfully, with time to indulge in my creative passions.
My version of success means working for myself and having the flexibility to set my hours. It means being creative and using my skills and knowledge to do work that is meaningful to me. It means finding pockets of joy in each day by doing things that nourish me.
This includes morning runs, weekend hikes, time to read books and craft words, learning new skills, renovating our 1950s bungalow and going on active holidays. Having the time and enough money to do these things is my version of a wealthy life.
Eventually, this also means living in a country with a garden big enough to grow all our own vegetables. But I don’t need to be filthy rich or run a six- figure business to do it. My idea of a rich life is closer to Morgan’s.
Having vast amounts of money and buying things doesn’t interest me. I’m motivated by experiences and doing things I enjoy. To me, that is living a rich life.
Redefine what success means to you.
Everyone’s definition of success is different. It’s whatever you want it to be.
You might relate to the example: earning six figures and having £10k months. The version of success where money, status, likes, and how much money you make is significant.
Your version of success might be working, saving up and then travelling for several months, rinse and repeat. Or it might be running your own business, living in a cottage in the country and going on daily walks through woodland.
For others, it will be going to work each day, returning home to their family, and spending the evening talking or watching TV. For a couple who thought they couldn’t have children, this is the ultimate dream life.
A successful, wealthy life might mean you spend every weekend running half-marathons or competing in triathlons. You’ve been into fitness your whole life. This is your passion, and life doesn’t get any better than this.
Success might be living off the grid, growing all your own food, and living as cheaply as possible because being self-sufficient is important to you.
You might even be like my friend, constantly exploring creative passions before turning them into a business. Or her ex-boyfriend, living a few minutes away from where you grew up. You have a full-time job and a side hustle, with no pressure to ever turn it into anything more.
It doesn’t matter if you earn £10,000 a year or £10,000 a month, run a small business or are the CEO of someone else’s. If you’re living a wealthy, successful life by your own standards, that’s all that matters.
Redefine what success means to you and embrace it.
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