3 Better Ways to Define Success in Your Career - The Muse

3 Better Ways to Define Success in Your Career - The Muse3 Better Ways to Define Success in Your CareerAccording to Merriam-Websters definition of success, anyone whos rich, respected, or famous is successful.Some people will read that and enthusiastically shake their heads yes- others will roll their eyes. Neither group is right or wrong the truth is that the words means a lot of different things to different people. In fact, as part of a recent Readdress Success campaign, Strayer University petitioned Merriam-Webster to change the official definition.The proposed replacement? Happiness derived from good relationships and achieving personal goals.I like this definition way better- it mucksmuschenstill encompasses the above description (your personal goals can include making lots of money), but also includes people who think more outside of the box.And its inspired me to develop three strategies for writing your own definition, for understanding how you define success.1. Look at Your Proudest AchievementsGrab a piece of paper and a pen, and write down the five accomplishments youre proudest of.Maybe thats, Paid off my student loans in five years, Taught myself how to code, or Left my job and started freelancing full-time.Note that these dont have to be your biggest accomplishments, but rather the ones you feel most positively about. Sure, everyones impressed that you graduated from a top-tier school, but you might be prouder that you beat your fear of heights or moved to a new city.After youve got five accomplishments, try to identify a common thread or two. Did all of your accomplishments require courage? Selflessness? Persistence? Intelligence? Caring?The common themes tell you what defines your long-term vision of success. For example, my common theme was creativity- when I figure out an unexpected or innovative way of solving a problem, I feel really successful.2. Challenge Your AssumptionsOn the other side of the paper, make a list of things that have prov ed to be less satisfying than youd thought they be.Ill give you one of mine. For years, Ive coveted a pair of heels by a particular designer. I decided that, after I hit a certain freelance writing milestone, Id buy the shoes.Well, Im still very proud of reaching the milestone- but wearing them doesnt give me the thrill I thought it would.By acknowledging the successes that didnt make you happy, you can start to replace societys definitions with your own.3. Create Levels of SuccessSuccess usually implies a goal that took weeks, months, or even years to make happen. However, part of defining your own vision of the word means identifying what it would mean in the next couple days, hours, or even minutes.Ive implemented this concept by adding a new section to my to-do list called real success. For example, one item was Grab lunch with a friend. Another was Practice interview answers for 15 minutes.Both of these goals helped me toward two bigger versions of success Achieve work-life bal ance and Get a job I absolutely love.Before this, I wouldnt consider myself successful until Id made those ultimate goals come true. But by reframing progress itself as success, I felt much more accomplished and proud.Define your own success is one of those goals that sounds awesome but is hard to implement. However, these three strategies have really helped me develop a personalized definition that works better for me. Whats yours? Let me know on Twitter