Definitions of Success

The Enlightened Entrepreneur

Today I wanted to have a conversation about happiness, success, and about the precursor of what let to me feeling like I was in a pressure cooker of my own design. I started my business from a place of passion but within a few years I suddenly felt like I was a slave to the business instead. Looking back on it now, I realize that I had always based my business goals off what the standard looked like in the industry, which wasn’t my own definition of success. Sure, we worked with iconic brands and tech companies, we moved part time employees to full time staff, we had offers to be acquired, and we experienced good business growth. But through all of that, I didn’t have a sense of feeling happy or relieved. Instead, I would set my sights on the next achievement or rung in the ladder, and go full out to get it… but once I got there the reward was always short lived. I kept delaying my happiness for other external items. I wasn’t satisfied so the happiness never sunk in because I kept postponing it for “I’ll be happy when…”

I didn’t feel alive or energized, I actually felt like I had no space for the things that were my passions or values and I was giving all of my resources to succeeding. But the kicker, is that definition of success was not my own, but one that had been placed upon me. I was so hung up on meeting that level of success - I ended up disconnected from my heart and own values. We take on these external definitions of success and just assume that they are right - but what if we were to take that definition into our own hands and reinvent what success feels like for each of us individually? At the end of the day we only have to answer to ourselves, and we only have this one life to live - so own your own success and have it help you come alive.

In this episode, Elizabeth discusses the following:

• Benefits of hindsight - reflecting on my past lessons.
• Definition of success.
• Keeping your passion and happiness alive.
• Reflecting on what success feels like to you.

If you want to keep the conversation going, you can find me on Instagram or my Website. If today’s episode was at all inspiring to you, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes I would be so grateful. Please also share this episode with anyone you feel needs it, because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.