How You Measure Success

If you were asked to describe success, how would you answer?  Actually, let’s first step back and ask are YOU successful?

The answer depends on how you measure success, and we all see success differently.

I realized this once again as I prepare for my seminar at the Toronto Property Show on April 30 which will be about mind-set, planning and motivation for success.

As I am digging into my past I didn’t realize how much of it I ignored as a success.  What I am preaching is what I must live so I am proudly bringing everything to the surface to help others realize what they also may be ‘pushing aside’.

Am I Successful?

Yes I am; there is no doubt in my mind.  I can confidently write this because of what success means to me.  If I had to break down what I think success is, it would be this:

“success is a forward action that helps me positively move away from where I am today.”

Think about that for a moment. Would you agree with that statement if you tried something and failed?  Have you gambled in the stock market or in an investment that failed?  Have you opened your own business only to close down after a few years?  Would you still think it was all successful?  The pessimist would say no, “it was unsuccessful”. However, I believe such action definitely is positive because every time you do something that DOESN’T work, you are closer to something that does.

That is the measurement of success

If you disagree with the above paragraph, maybe your view of success needs to be re-evaluated.  If you only view success as materialistic like a million dollars in the bank, a huge mansion & new cars,  then “small wins” and worse “failures” will keep you back.

That is why my wife and I have learned to ‘celebrate the small wins’ from my friend Don R. Campbell preaches.  I certainly did not do this throughout most of my lifetime but now look back and take every excuse to acknowledge what brought me here today.

Sure, we still have big dreams and one-year ‘summits’ (thank you Philip McKernan), retirement lifestyle goals, but each small steps is what makes us successful.

What If?

What if we chose NOT to take these actions, where would we be?  Probably in the same position, we were in 2007; just dreaming.

Is “what if” keeping YOU back from success?

Start looking at everything you do as an achievement – as hard as it is sometimes, this will set you up for true success. For example, if you lost money in your RRSP it’s a lesson learned and you found this blog with someone telling you how to protect your RRSP – isn’t THAT a positive action towards success?

Start the ball rolling and post your thoughts and questions below.

Let me know how you view success and we will help each other get there.