We all have different ways to interpret success. As we get older, our definitions get shaped by the experiences we have went through. Our success might not be the success we were expecting five years ago. My time being an entrepreneur has been an extremely exciting experience. What does success look like in a teenager like me? Let’s break it down.
What does success mean to me?
Being a teen entrepreneur is a challenge. I used the lowest point in my life as a springboard. However, I lost some of my friends and families along the way. I define success using two values I believe are important: Heart and Open-mindedness.
At the end of the day, I need to ask myself how open minded I am and how soft my heart has become. I need to answer these two key questions at the end of my journey. I cannot call myself successful if my heart is filled with hate and anger. Success is not achieved if my mind is closed to strange new ideas.
What does success mean to you?
In simple terms, success to you should never be a copy of someone else’s. Believe me when I tell you that comparing yourself to others isn’t a healthy activity. We need to focus on our own marathon. Constantly looking at others will just trip us and impede our progress. We lose sight of our own strengths,
Focus on your own adventure. The great things you see from others are just highlights.
What does success look like?
Before you truly define what success is, find out what it means to you first. You will find out what sucess looks like when you reflect on your own activities. Identify them by defining what you look like when you perform in your best state. Look at the characteristics you admire,. Lastly, imagine success when you finally achieved everything that you wanted.
By identifying these key areas, you find out the goals and values that you value the most. It allows you to check whether you are chasing the wrong goals. By looking at success in this way, you can tell if it aligns with your core values as an entrepreneur.
At the end of the day, you should have a refined view of your short-term and long-term goals.
How do I define success?
The physical measures of success (money, status, and fame) is a poor indicator of success. I will give you better indicators of success: Truth, Strength, and Focus. The small lessons as we go through our life must happen before those “Eureka!” moments.
Success comes from our willingness to go for a breakthrough. It’s not bad to fail over and over again by just trying different things.
These are just rough estimations of how I define success. As I’ve said earlier, my success is extremely different from yours. While you’re out there waiting for your breakthrough, just wait and persevere. Keep your eyes on the prize of your own marathon.
If you’re on your way to build your career as an entrepreneur, you may want to check this out.
Opinions expressed by AsianBlurb contributors are their own.
Shanae Brooks is a reporter covering leadership in the business world. She began her journalism career as a ghostwriter behind various successful books in the business realm.
