Comments on: What Does Success Feel Like? http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/ Everyday Leadership Through Everyday Actions Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:32:51 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Joanne Maly http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-394 Joanne Maly Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:38:22 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-394 Susan, Your post today generated a flurry of thoughts and memories. It motivated me to do my own 'un'-scientific experiment. I closed my eyes for a moment and had to name the first three people who immediately came to mind when I visualized the word 'success'. In a flash, the three persons who jumped out at me - all represented people who resemble for me... - a soul of warmth and caring; - a heart that gives endlessly, and gives 'just because; - eyes that reveal a 'realness' and integrity and peace; and - hands that have given tirelessly. This was a good self-awakening experience since it seems that while I value the true meaning of success, I can work 'so hard' at my work and at achieving the illusive image of career success. Thank you for your thoughts and for being the impetus to such great reader conversation above. Have a great Thursday. Joanne Maly Susan,
Your post today generated a flurry of thoughts and memories. It motivated me to do my own ‘un’-scientific experiment. I closed my eyes for a moment and had to name the first three people who immediately came to mind when I visualized the word ’success’. In a flash, the three persons who jumped out at me – all represented people who resemble for me…
- a soul of warmth and caring;
- a heart that gives endlessly, and gives ‘just because;
- eyes that reveal a ‘realness’ and integrity and peace; and
- hands that have given tirelessly.

This was a good self-awakening experience since it seems that while I value the true meaning of success, I can work ’so hard’ at my work and at achieving the illusive image of career success.

Thank you for your thoughts and for being the impetus to such great reader conversation above.

Have a great Thursday.
Joanne Maly

]]> By: Dr. Ben http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Dr. Ben Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:38:19 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-393 What a great post! So glad I saw @LollyDaskal's reference to it. Love the questions you raise, and the story of your friend, and the powerful summary you came away with: my desire for freedom and choice, the opportunity to express my creativity and to make a difference in the lives of others. Definitely triggers some key tho'ts for reflection for all of us! What a great post! So glad I saw @LollyDaskal’s reference to it. Love the questions you raise, and the story of your friend, and the powerful summary you came away with:

my desire for freedom and choice, the opportunity to express my creativity and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Definitely triggers some key tho’ts for reflection for all of us!

]]> By: nicholas http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-392 nicholas Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:33:48 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-392 Great posts.Keep up the good work.That's success. Great posts.Keep up the good work.That’s success.

]]> By: Jason Shick http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-311 Jason Shick Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:36:28 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-311 The timing of this post resonates with me. This week I found out a old friend of the family is suffering from ALS, more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. If you know nothing about the disease, it isn't pleasant and life expectancy is 3-5 years. Anyway, it made me slow down, take some time and really ponder this question that you so eloquently write about Susan. The truth is, there really isn't success without significance. I have a strange feeling that when we all come to those last moments in our life we will be more concerned with significance as it realates to relationships and people than we will be with success... and that is the catch-22 because if we look back on questions of significance and have no regrets, then we will know if we were truly successful. So my short answer is- success to me is creating value and significance, building relationships, and having no regrets when we check-out of this life and check-in upstairs. The timing of this post resonates with me. This week I found out a old friend of the family is suffering from ALS, more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. If you know nothing about the disease, it isn’t pleasant and life expectancy is 3-5 years. Anyway, it made me slow down, take some time and really ponder this question that you so eloquently write about Susan. The truth is, there really isn’t success without significance. I have a strange feeling that when we all come to those last moments in our life we will be more concerned with significance as it realates to relationships and people than we will be with success… and that is the catch-22 because if we look back on questions of significance and have no regrets, then we will know if we were truly successful.

So my short answer is- success to me is creating value and significance, building relationships, and having no regrets when we check-out of this life and check-in upstairs.

]]> By: Ann Evanston http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-310 Ann Evanston Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:01:17 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-310 Very interesting post. Years ago I used to do a visualization activity with my audiences about success and defining it for them. Having done it with over 5000 people, only ONE brought up material things like you describe early on in this article. I think many people know what it looks like, but getting there is another thing for them! Ann Evanston http://warrior-preneur The Warrior is Within You Very interesting post. Years ago I used to do a visualization activity with my audiences about success and defining it for them. Having done it with over 5000 people, only ONE brought up material things like you describe early on in this article.

I think many people know what it looks like, but getting there is another thing for them!

Ann Evanston
http://warrior-preneur
The Warrior is Within You

]]> By: Susan Mazza http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-308 Susan Mazza Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:15:44 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-308 @Mike You make some really great points. I especially resonate with what you said about the economy depending on us as "producers" rather than "consumers". Not sure if this is what you had in mind in using the word producers but the word that comes to my mind is "contributors". @Wally Excellent examples of other dimensions of success. Like you said, there is a place for the "measurable" goals. But absent those other dimensions I think we increase the risk of achieving a goal without an experience of real satisfaction in the end. @Henie I can see freedom is a dimension of success we share! @Joe Great point. There is an amazing quality to our experience of life when what we are doing aligns with our values. @Art From "success to significance" is a great distinction for those of us in the "mid life awakening" phase of life. Thanks for sharing about your mom - what an incredible gift for you both. I think it is those kinds of choices that source a mid life awakening (vs. a crisis). @Mike You make some really great points. I especially resonate with what you said about the economy depending on us as “producers” rather than “consumers”. Not sure if this is what you had in mind in using the word producers but the word that comes to my mind is “contributors”.

@Wally Excellent examples of other dimensions of success. Like you said, there is a place for the “measurable” goals. But absent those other dimensions I think we increase the risk of achieving a goal without an experience of real satisfaction in the end.

@Henie I can see freedom is a dimension of success we share!

@Joe Great point. There is an amazing quality to our experience of life when what we are doing aligns with our values.

@Art From “success to significance” is a great distinction for those of us in the “mid life awakening” phase of life. Thanks for sharing about your mom – what an incredible gift for you both. I think it is those kinds of choices that source a mid life awakening (vs. a crisis).

]]> By: Susan Mazza http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-307 Susan Mazza Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:55:12 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-307 Read this great post today I had to share - this is one way to answer "what does success feel like?" Jonathan writes about those small yet significant moments that are the things that really matter. http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/lies-damn-lies-and-follower-counts-what-really-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-8556 Read this great post today I had to share – this is one way to answer “what does success feel like?” Jonathan writes about those small yet significant moments that are the things that really matter.

http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/lies-damn-lies-and-follower-counts-what-really-matters/comment-page-1/#comment-8556

]]> By: Leadership Link Round-Up: August 10-15 | Samuel Bacharach Blog http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Leadership Link Round-Up: August 10-15 | Samuel Bacharach Blog Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:05:56 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-306 [...] What does success feel like? It’s an important question for leaders to ask. [...] [...] What does success feel like? It’s an important question for leaders to ask. [...]

]]> By: Art Petty http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Art Petty Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:34:20 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-305 Susan, what a wonderful and wonderfully important post. A very wise person shared with me a few years ago that he had realized that his core pursuit had shifted in his 40's from success to significance. That statement has followed me ever after. After 22 years and some great "success" in the corporate world, I stepped off of that track in pursuit of a new definition of success. I defined it loosely as: helping others grow and reach their professional and personal dreams and I began to measure it in terms of time and quality experiences with others. The year helping care for my mother as she succumbed to cancer was priceless. Writing a book along with several hundred blog posts, learning to teach and consult and provide value to others in the process all are important measures for me. Now, my attention is on developing a business that truly makes a difference for others. I like the outcome of doing a great job...because that outcome, money, creates time to focus on the things that are truly important. OK, I've waxed on long enough here. Thanks for the inspirational post. I've found so many people at this point in life that are struggling to come to grips with the success/significance issue. We often interpret it as a mid-life crisis. Perhaps, it is a mid-life awakening. -Art Susan, what a wonderful and wonderfully important post. A very wise person shared with me a few years ago that he had realized that his core pursuit had shifted in his 40’s from success to significance. That statement has followed me ever after.

After 22 years and some great “success” in the corporate world, I stepped off of that track in pursuit of a new definition of success. I defined it loosely as: helping others grow and reach their professional and personal dreams and I began to measure it in terms of time and quality experiences with others.

The year helping care for my mother as she succumbed to cancer was priceless. Writing a book along with several hundred blog posts, learning to teach and consult and provide value to others in the process all are important measures for me. Now, my attention is on developing a business that truly makes a difference for others. I like the outcome of doing a great job…because that outcome, money, creates time to focus on the things that are truly important.

OK, I’ve waxed on long enough here. Thanks for the inspirational post. I’ve found so many people at this point in life that are struggling to come to grips with the success/significance issue. We often interpret it as a mid-life crisis. Perhaps, it is a mid-life awakening. -Art

]]> By: Joe Williams http://randomactsofleadership.com/2009/08/12/what-does-success-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-304 Joe Williams Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:43:46 +0000 http://randomactsofleadership.com/?p=1047#comment-304 Susan, for me "success" is achieved when one is living a life fully aligned with one's core values. Great post! Susan, for me “success” is achieved when one is living a life fully aligned with one’s core values. Great post!

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