What Does Success Look Like

We love to measure things.  After-all, there is that saying (or some version of it) “if you didn’t measure/write it, then it didn’t happen.”  So how do you measure your success?
When thinking about success, we tend to lean back into the things that others can see:
• Did I get promoted
• Did I get a raise
• Did I get recognition, Did I win

We discount the things that can be seen but we don’t generally talk about:
• With that promotion, did you get less time at work?
• With that raise, did you improve your life or spend more?
• With that recognition, did you pay it forward/give credit to your team, coworkers etc.?

So, I ask again, how are YOU measuring success?  Career success has an effect on your life.  Sometimes positive and sometimes not so much.  Having a clear understanding of what a successful AND balanced life means to you is key to making sure you are in fact happy, healthy and fulfilled.  That means that measuring success needs to be a balance equation:
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• Success in career should not be at the cost of your relationships.  PERIOD- if your career is more important than your relationships then you need to re-evaluate your relationships.  They are not serving or fulfilling you.  When you have a balance between career and relationships you are better able to the decide if the next move is best for you because 1) it will fulfill you and 2) it will support your relationships with friends, family and significant others. 
• Financial success should be balanced with how you are interacting with the world.  Are you giving and receiving or just receiving?  How are you paying it forward- with charity work, mentoring others, etc?
• When you are recognized what are your thoughts?  You are deserving of recognition and you should receive it while also acknowledging how you came about the recognitions.  Most things we don’t do alone so recognizing the members of your tribe that are there to help is what will keep you in balance. 

I do an exercise each year that keeps me honest on this topic.  I write out in my journal what success looks like for the year and I revisit that statement every quarter.  Like an operational review for my life.  If I am straying from the balance then I have to have that hard conversation with myself on why and course correct. 
So what does your life balance sheet look like?