“What’ll that get you?” It’s a question I often ask. (Hat tip to one of my teachers, executive coach Gary Wood, for teaching it to me.)
Once a client told me he wanted to be no. 1 in his market. “What’ll that get you?” I asked.
“Well, then I’d win,” he said. I had to ask: What would winning get him?”
“Well … then I’d be the winner!” he said.
He never did reach no. 1. Did that mean he failed?
Or did he need a more well-rounded definition of success?
Take my kids and their experiences in cross-country running.
Each of them are running. Because it is sport, each of them is working on self-discipline. But each of them find it fulfilling for different reasons.
Their motivations vary drastically. One of them likes to go fast. Another likes to be a part of a team. And so on.
One of my readers–thanks to both of you (jokes!)–sent me this excerpt from Fast Company: “Is your definition of success missing this one thing?“
It has a powerful list of questions at the end to help you clarify your definition of success beyond “the number.” What’ll that get you? As Simon Sinek would say, maybe instead of playing the monthly sales game, or even annual financial game, you could be playing “the infinite game.”
If you’re having trouble seeing beyond the standard answers for how to be successful, try Hip Socket’s free Professional Life Self-Assessment. I hope it helps.