“Success in life can be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.” Deepak Chopra
In today’s 24/7 world where boundaries between work and play are more fungible, your satisfaction with work takes on a larger and more prominent part of your overall level of happiness. The days of leaving your work behind once you leave your office are as much of a distant memory as the gold watch you once hoped to receive at retirement after 30 years of working for the same company.
Whether you’re a baby boomer, a Gen X, Gen Y or millennial, your needs are all the same – enjoying what you do, feeling valued for your contribution, achieving the goals you set for yourself, and living a life that has sufficient balance between work and play.
Over the past few years two more elements have gained prominence as being integral to your overall happiness. Autonomy over your career and authenticity, being who you are in all you do, have become important in achieving higher levels of satisfaction and success.
It’s up to you to make the most of what you do and what you hope to achieve. Be honest with yourself and take the following self-assessment so you can take what steps you need to attain the success you want, however you define it.
Ask yourself:
- Am I doing work that satisfies me? Does the work I do employ the skills and talents I enjoy using? Do I continue to be challenged in my work? Am I passionate about what I do?
- Do I feel valued for my contribution? How am I valued?
- Can I define the value of my contribution to my company/clients?
- Can I articulate my goals? Do I re-evaluate them regularly to see if they continue to make sense?
- Am I taking the necessary steps to attain my goals? Are there intermediate steps that would be beneficial to my ultimate goals?
- Am I in control of my career? Am I where I want to be? Do others view me the way I want to be seen?
- Do I work on my relationships with family/friends in a way that keeps them growing and interesting? Do I spend enough in-person time with those people who matter to me?
- Am I taking care of myself so I am fit in both body and mind?
- How do I contribute to the “greater good”? What do I do that goes beyond my immediate needs?
10. Am I giving as much as I can to those who might need my help?
11. What am I doing to ensure that I continue to grow professionally and personally?
I know there are many other questions you can ask yourself and we would all love to hear what they are, so please share them.
How do you measure success? If you agree with Deepak Chopra’s definition of success, then once you have completed this self-assessment create your game plan for expanding and improving your building blocks to happiness and success.
Utilizing her experience of over 25 years, Mary Rosenbaum empowers careerists and entrepreneurs to gain greater clarity and more effectively communicate their unique promise of value. Strong leadership means leading with your strengths. Get her free report Top Strategies for Getting Visible and Getting Ahead.
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March 6, 2012
12:06 am
Happiness comes to them who opens their door for small treats that life provides to them. So be happy and live longer!
March 6, 2012
7:17 am
I enjoyed this article, but question number 6 raised an eyebrow with me – I don’t expect to know exactly what others think of me, and have tried hard to stop wondering! I feel that part of becoming more settled and confident includes a reduced focus on what others’ opinions might be. I do believe in seeking out constructive feedback from wise colleagues however, as this can be both a learning experience and reassuring at the same time. I totally agree with the goals you set out in the article, even though answering your set of questions made me think that a compromise is the answer to most of them.
March 6, 2012
7:33 am
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Eleanor. Understanding how others view you is an important part of managing your career. Many of us think others know what our strengths and talents are, what challenges we are capable of taking on, and what our goals are, but that is not always the case. By gaining an understanding of how you are viewed by others, you can shine a spotlight on those specific areas that need to be brought into the light. This is not about manipulating your personal brand but rather ensuring that those around you, especially decision makers inside and outside your organization, understand who you are and where you want to go. It’s taking hold of the steering wheel rather than sitting comfortably in the passenger seat.
There are compromises we all have to make in our lifetimes, both personal and professional. The goal would be to limit the number of compromises that directly impact our degree of happiness and limit our ability to achieve the success we seek. I believe that you can take action to reduce the compromises you have to make both in quantity and in quality. That’s taking control. Thanks again for your comment Eleanor.