So Your Version of Success Looks Different? Good.

If you’ve ever shared your idea of success with someone and they stared back at you, confused—or worse, concerned—you’re not alone.

Our culture often clings to a narrow version of what “making it” looks like: wealth, status, and climbing the corporate ladder. There’s nothing wrong with any of those. But success? It can look like a lot more. And the sooner we expand the definition, the sooner we stop chasing things that don’t fit us—and start building lives that do.

An Exhaustive List of Success. Success could be...

Raising children who know they are deeply loved.

Earning a seven-figure income.

Working only 4 days a week—without guilt.

Living off the grid, growing your own food.

Having your dream job title (CEO, Creative Director, Founder).

Traveling the world with nothing but a backpack and a laptop.

Getting to work from anywhere (including your favorite coffee shop).

Running a small business that provides for your family.

Leading a team and watching them grow.

Being a lifelong learner, always exploring new ideas.

Retiring at 40.

Never retiring, because you love what you do.

Having your work recognized with awards and accolades.

Living quietly without the need for recognition at all.

Creating a legacy of kindness.

Becoming debt-free and staying there.

Doing humanitarian or missionary work.

Building generational wealth for your family.

Having absolute control over your time.

Becoming an expert in your craft, even if no one notices.

Mentoring others and seeing them succeed.

Maintaining your health and energy into old age.

Having a stable 9-5 that pays the bills and gives you evenings free.

Writing a book that changes someone’s life.

Becoming a thought leader in your field.

Making art for yourself, not for profit.

Spending more time in nature than in meetings.

Creating a family legacy business.

Staying home to raise your kids, because that’s your highest priority.

Owning multiple properties.

Owning zero properties, but having total freedom.

Leaving the city behind for a small-town life.

Living in a high-rise apartment with views of the skyline.

Being the go-to expert people trust.

Making people laugh for a living.

Choosing minimalism and simplicity over growth and complexity.

Leading a non-profit that changes lives.

Leaving work at 3 PM so you can coach your kid’s soccer team.

Saying “no” to things that don’t align—even if they’re profitable.

Saying “yes” to opportunities that challenge you—even if they scare you.

Building a business you can hand off so you can move on to your next big thing.

Building a business you run for life because it’s your calling.

Define It (Or Someone Else Will)

If you don’t define success for yourself, someone else will do it for you. And chances are, it’ll be a version that doesn’t fit.

Ask yourself:

• Why am I chasing __________?

• What’s my ultimate goal?

• Am I clear on the trade-offs that come with this path?

Every version of success has its price. Big income? Probably means big pressure. More freedom? Might mean less stability. Wealth? Brings its own set of problems (trust us).

The goal isn’t to scare you off—just to be honest. The best definitions of success take into account both the highs and the lows. And when you own that? It’s powerful.

Your Version of Success is Valid (Even If It’s Rare)

If you’ve got unconventional dreams, take a moment to ask why they make others raise an eyebrow. Is it because you’re onto something different—or because it’s worth reconsidering? Both are valid. But the more you understand your “why,” the stronger you’ll be when people question it.

And when you’re sure of it? Keep going.

Your success—whatever it looks like—is yours to claim.