Let’s Talk About Success: How to Define It and 5 Tips to Achieve It

When you think of success, what comes to mind? A corner office? A dream home? The ability to spend your days doing exactly what you love? While these are all valid goals, the truth is that success isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Success is personal. It’s about creating a life that aligns with your values, passions, and dreams. And the first step to achieving it is defining what it looks like for you.

Here’s how you can do that—and five tips to help you get there.

What Does Success Look Like to You?

Take a moment to think about this question. So often, we chase goals set by society, family, or peers, without stopping to ask: Is this what I really want?

To define your vision of success:

1. Ask yourself: What brings me joy and fulfillment?
2. Consider your values: Does your definition of success align with what matters most to you—family, freedom, health, or purpose?
3. Think holistically: Success isn’t just professional—it’s personal, relational, and emotional, too.

Success could mean reaching financial milestones and having time to enjoy them. Or it might look like making a difference in your community, finding inner peace, or creating a flexible work-life balance. Whatever it is, make sure it’s yours.

5 Tips to Define and Achieve Your Vision of Success

1. Start With Clarity: Reflect and Visualize

You can’t achieve success if you don’t know what it looks like. Spend time reflecting on:

• Your long-term goals: Where do you want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years?
• Your daily life: What would your ideal day look like?
• What’s missing: What do you crave that you don’t have today?

Action Tip: Write down your vision in detail. Visualize your ideal life—professionally and personally—and use this as your compass for decision-making.

2. Set Priorities: Focus on What Matters Most

Success often requires sacrifice, so it’s important to prioritize what truly matters.

• Ask yourself: What are my non-negotiables?
• Decide what you’re willing to let go of in order to create space for what matters.

Action Tip: Create a list of your top three priorities and revisit them regularly to stay focused on what aligns with your definition of success.

3. Regulate Your Nervous System: Stay Grounded

Success is not just about action—it’s also about managing stress, building resilience, and staying emotionally grounded. A dysregulated nervous system can lead to burnout, decision fatigue, and emotional reactivity.

Action Tip: Incorporate practices like mindfulness, somatic experiencing, or daily breathing exercises to stay calm and focused as you work toward your goals.

4. Redefine Failure: Learn and Grow

Fear of failure often stops people from pursuing their dreams. But failure is simply feedback—it shows you what doesn’t work and guides you toward what does.

Action Tip: The next time you face a setback, ask yourself: What lesson can I take from this? Then use it as fuel to keep moving forward.

5. Celebrate Progress: Success is a Journey

Too often, we wait to celebrate until we’ve “made it.” But success is about the journey, not just the destination. Acknowledge and celebrate the small wins along the way.

Action Tip: At the end of each day or week, reflect on one thing you accomplished and feel proud of. This builds momentum and keeps you motivated.

The Bottom Line: Success is Yours to Define

True success is not about meeting someone else’s standards—it’s about living a life that aligns with your values and aspirations.

When you take the time to define your vision, prioritize what matters, and cultivate resilience, you can create success that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

So, let me ask you: What does success look like to you?