Executive Wellness

Seeing your success

Andy Johnson, Change Partners
 
Like beauty, success lies in the eye of the beholder: some like to trumpet out their success even when their efforts do not generate a particularly significant impact. Then there are others who achieve marvels without seeking or demanding praise or recognition.

Defining success is a highly subjective endeavour. While we may never achieve absolutely everything we set out to achieve, or even just be delighted in what we have achieved, we may at least be satisfied with what we have done.

One way of gauging personal success is to reflect on how you would like to be remembered. Success often has a link to a specified purpose and is akin to a Sotho saying, ‘siriti’, which means ‘you are known for the shadow you cast on other people’.

Formulating a definition of success requires much consideration and can be framed in longterm, big visionary stuff, as well as in the shortterm.

Perhaps one of the key attributes of successful people is their ability to hold onto their vision. This may require a combination of determination, doggedness, optimism and self-belief, as well as resisting distractions and avoiding derailing emotions. As the beholder, they know what ‘success’ will look like.

In carving out a vision of success, it may be easier to decide what you don’t want, rather than what you do.

A successful result depends on knowing what you want to achieve, planning your actions accordingly and imagining all the probable variations along the way in order to respond appropriately.

If you don’t know what you are trying to achieve and you don’t consider all options or potential conflicts, it is unlikely that you will be able to deal with them as they sneak up on you.

Success and competitiveness are intertwined. While it is beneficial to have people who want to do better and find different ways of working, it is equally important to recognise that success depends often on teamwork. To buy into the overall dream, people need a sense of personal satisfaction – just like the floor cleaner at the NASA space shuttle complex who, when asked about his role, declared that he is helping to put people in space.

When it comes to assessing one’s success, comparison with other people’s success is dangerous. Rather own your own definition of success.

tel: (011) 807-9333
email: andyjohnson@change.co.za