We all have different ideas of what success looks like.
In a recent LinkedIn post, I asked, “What does success mean to you?” The results were not surprising – 10% of votes were for achieving your goals, 47% of votes were for making a difference, and 43% of votes were for being happy and fulfilled.
With the experience of the last few years, more and more people are rethinking what success looks like. In the past, success was often defined by things like job title, salary, and level of education. While those things are still important to many people, they are no longer the only things that matter. Nowadays, more and more people are focused on making a difference and being happy and fulfilled. They are quitting (or quietly quitting) organizations that are not flexing with the changing definition of success.
The reason for this shift is twofold. First, technology has given us more flexibility when it comes to where and how we work. Gone are the days when you had to be in a certain place at a certain time to do your job. With the rise of remote working, flexible hours, and freelancing, more and more people are realizing that they don’t have to sacrifice their personal lives in order to have a successful career.
Second, there is a growing recognition of the importance of mental health and well-being. In the past, burnout was seen as an inevitable part of working life. But we are learning (I am learning) that if we want to be productive, happy, and successful in our careers, we need to focus on our mental health just as much as our physical health. That means having a healthy work-life balance is essential to achieving long-term success.
The bottom line is that the definition of success is changing. And that’s a good thing! Technology has given us more freedom and flexibility when it comes to our careers, and we are finally starting to prioritize our mental health. If you’re feeling stuck in an unhappy or unfulfilling job, know that you are not alone. Many people are rethinking what success looks like, and choosing to pursue careers that make them happy instead of just pursuing careers that make them rich.
Do you have a career story to tell? I would love to hear it!
I’ll be covering these questions in my upcoming research:
- Do you feel that the definition of success is changing?
- What factors do you think are contributing to this change?
- What implications does this have for individual and organizational success?
- How can businesses and individuals stay ahead in a rapidly changing world?
- Is it possible to achieve both individual and organizational success simultaneously?