To me, being successful means...
Having the time and money to do what you love. To me it is being a stay at home mom to two beautiful children.
My definition of success has changed over time.
In high school I might have said that the end result was success. Maybe a big house, nice car, the right things to impress others. Now it is almost completely about spiritual and emotional contentment.
To me, being successful means...
Being in the process of creativity and in the company of people who make you feel good inside...while able to feed yourself food that makes your body feel good and work well.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be more about money and accomplishments
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with what I do on a day-to-day basis.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was in high school, I thought that success meant working in a white collar professional capacity, having power and money, and exotic adventures and participating in art on the side.
To me, being successful means...
I've come to believe that success is really relative. Some might define success by major financial success, power or name recognition. I think I'm successful. I've got three kids who are doing great, I can feed them and my wife and have money for luxuries like Ice Hockey, concerts, meals out and seeing new movies if we like. I'm not wealthy by any means, but I'm certainly successful compared to a lot of situations.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to feel that being recognized was the definition of success. After all, only those whose name is thrown around are what seemed successful. They were known, they had influence, recognition and power. It always seemed like school and TV said it was so easy, it wasn't. I had to move the goalposts. Success became not being a failure rather than being any verb which implied privilege. When that level of success(close to the dictionary definition) is your bar, all of a sudden its black and white: succeed or fail. So not failing became the yardstick of success.
To me, being successful means...
Living happily- having time to spend with my wife and family without too much stress.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I have realized that the most important things to me are people, relationships and ideas, not grades, jobs or money.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with my personal life, having work that I'm genuinely interested in and that is challenging but not too stressful, and being financially comfortable.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to mix up success on a specific small goal and success overall--I thought that if I didn't achieve a specific career step I wasn't successful. Now I realize that being successful at each step isn't the same as being successful overall. I'm happier where I ended up in my career than I probably would have been where I thought I wanted to go, just like I'm happier with my husband than I would have been with exes I was devastated to break up with at the time.
To me, being successful means...
Being successful means contributing to society, knowing and honoring myself, figuring out how to love/care others (i.e. my family) best, and using my intellect.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It has more to do with the satisfaction I draw and my own priorities being sorted out.
To me, being successful means...
Learning to find joy, love, gratitude, and opportunity no matter what is (or is not) happening in our lives while remaining fully present and compassionate with the reality of our own and others' suffering and the light such darkness can reveal for us to share with others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I wanted to do something big with my life - and to me that meant being well-known and doing something high profile (like being an astronaut or a famous author). While I still struggle with that old attachment to having my ego-identity validated by as many people as possible, I've come to find the greatest sense of purpose in my life comes from the individual relationships I form and the opportunity I'm given to make a lasting and meaningful difference in the lives of others.
To me, being successful means...
Doing something you love that hopefully makes enough money to pay the bills.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Living your life with passion and not taking it for granted. Being able to love and be loved. Having compassion for yourself and others. Trying to make the world a better place.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Absolutely. For years --starting in elementary school and extending past graduate school – I defined success based on academic and professional accomplishments. My parents were very achievement oriented and put a lot of pressure on us to excel starting at a very young age. But it never felt like enough. In college, I became very depressed. I felt like I had been jumping through hoops my whole life, and I was exhausted. I didn’t even know what actually made me happy. After an episode of major depression, I decided to pursue the things that gave me pleasure instead of what other people told me I should do. I feel very lucky to have found a career I love, one where I can help people every day, be creative, feel intellectually satisfied, and explore the world. I feel even luckier to have found my soul mate in my late 30s. The joy I derive from my day-to-day life, and my ability to give back, are what make me feel successful.
To me, being successful means...
Finding your own version of happiness. Balancing commitments to work, family, and self without giving too much of oneself to any one thing.
My definition of success has and has not changed over time.
Yes and no. I think I've felt that feeling good about the work that I do and the contribution I make is important; it's just the focus of my work has changed. Creating a happy family and home life has been paramount and more than work, that is the success that I get most joy from.
To me, being successful means...
Making mistakes and learning from them. Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Learned to not worry about what others think
To me, being successful means...
. . . following the Lord Jesus Christ in all that I say and do.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be worldly success and now it means following Christ.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
I think it's relaxed a lot over the years. Gotten more inclusive and simpler
To me, being successful means...
Being happy with yourself, and contributing to the community around you. Finding a way to balance your life so that you have time for all the things you find important.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Through college, I thought top grades and achievement meant success. I thought that graduate degrees meant success. It wasn't until after college when I took time off before graduate school that I realized that spending time with friends, doing fun activities, and being away from achievement-oriented things brought me more joy than school did.
To me, being successful means...
Being self aware and kind to those around you and yourself. Do the best you can do in each phase of your life. Understand that you will make mistakes--everyone does--and somehow, it all works out right eventually.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was a [high school name omitted] student, I thought that grades, getting into a great school, having a lot of friends and an active social life was success. Then after I graduated from a great university and earned my law degree, I thought success meant landing a lucrative position in a prestigious law firm and making a lot of money. Now, I think that success means to be the best "you." It may sound like a cliche, but each person is unique and valuable and there is no one else like you. Know this and embrace this. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't be so preoccupied about what people think about you. It's none of your business. Only care about what you think of yourself. Life your life and treat people in such a way that you can respect yourself without regrets.
To me, being successful means...
Finding contentment in what is
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to revolve more around money. Now i know having enough and loving myself is most important.
To me, being successful means...
Finding fulfillment in whatever it is I spend most of my time doing, be that work, a hobby, or spending time with my family. Success is being happy in MY life, as it is, not as I imagined it or want it to be.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My view has shifted much more towards internal feelings of fulfillment, rather than external markers. I'm not sure that I would have identified my definition as based on external markers in the past, but as I get older and learn more about myself, I realize that that really was the standard. Graduation, grades, job title, specific tangible achievements. I am working towards bringing the focus around to my internal feeling of satisfaction.
This is a collection of anonymous life and career stories from Palo Alto alumni for everyone. They shatter the myth that there is only one path to success.
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