Success-Energy Lab: Goals, Success and...Suffering?

“Adventure should be 80 percent ‘I think this is manageable,’ but it’s good to have that last 20 percent where you’re right outside your comfort zone. Still safe, but outside your comfort zone.”

~ Bear Grylls

Hey, Michelle Cederberg here with your weekly Work-Life Recharge … with more to say about goals…and the success they bring (or don’t bring.)

This morning on a call with my Mastermind group we had a conversation about success. My Mastermind buddies are all speakers, coaches and consultants like me, and all of us agree that we want more success in our respective businesses, but what that looks like for each of us is quite different – in how much we want to make, how hard we want to work, how much we want to travel and where, whether or not we want to manage staff, and what methods and systems we want to use to get there.

What Ron wants and how he’s getting there is different from Mark. What I want and how I’m getting there is different from Sarah or Joel or Dana or Cody. You get the idea. No two success equations are alike. And we’re all doing pretty well.

Watch the video below, or read the transcript that follows.

That conversation got me thinking. When it comes to goals and success there’s this one big ‘starter question’ that coaches, psychologists, and consultants everywhere ask their clients.

What do you want?

What do you want for your career, your relationship, your health… whatever! What do you want? It’s a simple question and an important one, because without clarity on that, you won’t know which direction to head. But I think that question needs a zinger of a follow up question.

What do you want, yes…AND how much are you prepared to suffer to get it?

We all want success. We all want the better job, the bigger pay cheque, the slimmer waistline, the successful business…the holiday home by the lake…

SUCCESS = [fill in the blank]

…but many of us stop there and don’t think about the sacrifice, discipline and hard work that is actually required to make the dream a reality.

What do you want, and how much are you prepared to suffer to get it?

Look, while this is not an exit door for having to do the work, there are no wrong answers as to how much you are prepared to suffer. What does enough look like for you?

How healthy is healthy enough for you? I don’t think couch potato is a worthy goal for anyone, but you don’t have to be a 7-day-a-week gym warrior or an Ironman athlete to be successful with your health either.

How rich is rich enough for you? Is it enough to be able to pay the bills and save for retirement, or do you want the nice car, the big trips and the cottage by the lake… or something in between? And how hard are you willing to work to get there?

I’m an entrepreneur… self-employed…growing my business with new programs and clients and ideas… and I’ve got lots to do. But, unless I’ve been booked to speak, I don’t work weekends. Other entrepreneurs may think that’s crazy, but for me, my weekend time is for recreation, relaxation and having outdoor fun with my hubby and my dog. I have among my core values health and life balance, so you better believe my version of success includes attention to that.

Here’s the thing. If your goals are meaningful and worthwhile to you, you’ll want to do the work on them. And yes, if those goals are going to get you anywhere they should push you outside your comfort zone. The question to ask yourself next though is how far outside that comfort you’re willing to step?

You’ve heard me say it before. Small steps are good steps. If you’re moving (and stretching just a bit) you’re doing it right. And if you’ve got the drive within you to take bigger steps, leap away my friend. Just get clear about what enough looks like for you. No need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Define your brand of success, decide what is enough for you, and then #DTFW (do the freakin’ work) in your own unique way.

That’s Success-Energy and it’s a formula worth exploring. Share your thoughts below, share this blog with your friends, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Until next time I’m Michelle Cederberg helping you recharge your work and life one success-energy idea at a time.

Michelle Cederberg, CSP, MKin, BA Psyc
CEP, CPCC, ORSC

Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.

www.michellecederberg.com
403-850-5589