It made me pause. Because for so many women leaders I work with — and honestly, for most people — success is defined by the outcome. It’s the promotion, the new role, the finished project, the higher income, the bigger house. It’s that “ta-da!” moment when the box gets ticked and you can say you’ve made it.
But here’s what I’ve come to understand after years of chasing the ‘big thing’: if we only see success as that big outcome, the journey towards it can feel endlessly frustrating. There’s always a gap between where you are now and where you want to be. Sometimes it’s a yawning chasm. And staring into that gap every day can be deeply discouraging. You feel like you’re not doing enough, not moving fast enough, not *enough*.
For me, success stopped being a destination a long time ago. It’s not something I finally arrive at; it’s something I practice.
Success is in the process, the daily steps, the momentum that builds when I keep showing up.
I’m not saying we should abandon our big dreams — quite the contrary. Those dreams are vital. They give us direction and energy. But I’ve learned that if I only let myself feel “successful” when I finally reach them, I miss the richness of the journey. Worse, I rob myself of the confidence and joy that come from recognising the progress I am making.
So now, at the end of each day and each week, I take a moment to reflect back. Did I move forward today? Did I care for my health? Did I take one meaningful step towards a program I want to launch, or a relationship I want to nurture? If the answer is yes, then that’s success. And I allow myself to celebrate it.
Reframing success this way has shifted everything for me. Instead of chasing some distant finish line, I’m living inside my success every day. And that, I think, is the real victory.
If you’re ready to stop chasing success and start living it, join me in The Thought Leader’s Advantage and claim your seat at the table.
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