How Will You Define Success in 2012?

I’m not sure if it’s the excitement of a new calendar year, or the sugar high I’ve been on since Saturday night, but I am even giddier than I normally am! (no…this is not the place to insert blonde joke..)

For much of 2011, I’ve been nose-to-the-grindstone, growing the business. In just one short year, I’ve met some incredible people. Mentors. Clients. Entrepreneurs. Partners. Friends–all of whom have contributed to a successful year.

This is your life. Be who you want to be.
When I decided to leave the “security” of the corporate job early this year, to focus on my business and my clients full time, it was not without a lot of thought. I knew that I was struggling against the current, and that things had to change. I realized that in order to be happy, I had to determine what the word “success” really meant for me–and then map out a path to get there.

In the past year, I discovered that success, for me, is knowing that I’m right where I want to be, doing what I want to be doing, with people I enjoy working with who appreciate what I do. It’s really that simple.

I spent a lot of years trying to “fit” into a world that defined success in a way that didn’t work for me. And even though I know that it is not where I belong, I value the years of experience I took from it. And I appreciate that it showed me, more than anything, what I didn’t want to do with my life. Sometimes, it’s knowing what you DON’T want to do  is more important than figuring out what you DO want to do. Huge motivator, if you can really be honest with yourself. But it can be tough to stray from the path of conformity.

Pam Slim posted this in her most recent blog post: “You define your own success. Don’t worry about how others define theirs.” And that couldn’t be more true. You will never be able to track your success if you’re using another person’s measuring stick. You have to run your own race. Even though you have lots of cheerleaders on the sidelines, it’s still your race to run–and your race to win. (P.S. this is why we called the company Endurance Marketing…)

Knowing how to define success, whether you’re talking about goals for a single project or plans for a new business venture, is the first place to start. As we turn the page to a brand new year, think about what success looks like for you.

Are you ready for 2012?

Here’s to much a new year, filled with much success! Cheers!