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Your Definition of 'Success' in a Career(ZT)
What does "success" mean in a career?
This seemingly simple question is complex indeed. But it's one you'll need to answer for yourself as you proceed through your college years and make plans for your future career.
In American culture, at least, success is often defined in terms of money, perceived status and power. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's a definition that works for lots of people.
The problem is, success viewed in this way doesn't work for everyone, including many college students.
I once worked with a student, for example, who was very stressed about the type of career she wanted to pursue. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but her parents were very much against the idea, believing that their daughter wouldn't make enough money in that particular field.
"But what do you think?" I finally asked the student.
"Well," she replied, "I guess I really don't care that much about money, even though I know I'm supposed to."
"Supposed to?" I reflected back, intrigued by where this line of thinking might lead.
"Yeah," she said. "You know, you're supposed to make a good salary to be successful."
"Says who?" I asked.
"My parents, my friends -- well, everybody," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Maybe that's how they define success," I pointed out, "but I'm wondering what you mean by success in your career. What's your definition of success?"
Silence. So I waited. And then...
"I guess I just want to do something that's fun and interesting, and something that really helps people. To me, the whole money thing isn't an issue."
"What's wrong with that?" I asked.
"Well, nothing, I guess," she replied.
"Nothing as far as you're concerned," I clarified.
"Right."
"Well, it seems to me that your definition of success is just different from how others in your life define it," I concluded. "And that's OK."
I don't know what this student ultimately decided to do, but I do know that she was just one of many examples of students who can boil their major and/or career decisions down to this very question of what is success. Perhaps you, too, are "stuck" on this question. If so, you're not alone. But it will be critical for you to answer the question for yourself, perhaps enlisting the help of a campus career counselor to do so.
We all deal with the expectations of -- and perhaps even pressures from -- other important people in our lives. At the same time, these people don't live our lives for us. We each live our own lives, and we therefore must live with the choices and decisions we make, particularly with respect to careers.
Is someone unduly influencing you with his or her definition of success instead of allowing you to choose a career based on your own idea of success? If so, consider the toll that's taking (and will continue to take) on you. Think about the anxiety, and perhaps even the pain, it's causing you. Is it really worth it to sacrifice your own happiness just to meet someone else's standards of "success"?
I don't think so. You're much better off in the end striving for success on your own terms, whatever they may be. In doing so, you'll likely have to stray far away from the "path of least resistance," and it will be difficult at times. But the payoff will be career satisfaction -- something that too few people can honestly claim.
What does "success" mean in a career?
This seemingly simple question is complex indeed. But it's one you'll need to answer for yourself as you proceed through your college years and make plans for your future career.
In American culture, at least, success is often defined in terms of money, perceived status and power. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's a definition that works for lots of people.
The problem is, success viewed in this way doesn't work for everyone, including many college students.
I once worked with a student, for example, who was very stressed about the type of career she wanted to pursue. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but her parents were very much against the idea, believing that their daughter wouldn't make enough money in that particular field.
"But what do you think?" I finally asked the student.
"Well," she replied, "I guess I really don't care that much about money, even though I know I'm supposed to."
"Supposed to?" I reflected back, intrigued by where this line of thinking might lead.
"Yeah," she said. "You know, you're supposed to make a good salary to be successful."
"Says who?" I asked.
"My parents, my friends -- well, everybody," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Maybe that's how they define success," I pointed out, "but I'm wondering what you mean by success in your career. What's your definition of success?"
Silence. So I waited. And then...
"I guess I just want to do something that's fun and interesting, and something that really helps people. To me, the whole money thing isn't an issue."
"What's wrong with that?" I asked.
"Well, nothing, I guess," she replied.
"Nothing as far as you're concerned," I clarified.
"Right."
"Well, it seems to me that your definition of success is just different from how others in your life define it," I concluded. "And that's OK."
I don't know what this student ultimately decided to do, but I do know that she was just one of many examples of students who can boil their major and/or career decisions down to this very question of what is success. Perhaps you, too, are "stuck" on this question. If so, you're not alone. But it will be critical for you to answer the question for yourself, perhaps enlisting the help of a campus career counselor to do so.
We all deal with the expectations of -- and perhaps even pressures from -- other important people in our lives. At the same time, these people don't live our lives for us. We each live our own lives, and we therefore must live with the choices and decisions we make, particularly with respect to careers.
Is someone unduly influencing you with his or her definition of success instead of allowing you to choose a career based on your own idea of success? If so, consider the toll that's taking (and will continue to take) on you. Think about the anxiety, and perhaps even the pain, it's causing you. Is it really worth it to sacrifice your own happiness just to meet someone else's standards of "success"?
I don't think so. You're much better off in the end striving for success on your own terms, whatever they may be. In doing so, you'll likely have to stray far away from the "path of least resistance," and it will be difficult at times. But the payoff will be career satisfaction -- something that too few people can honestly claim.
