“Success is a journey, not a destination. It requires constant effort, vigilance and reevaluation.” — Mark Twain
Take some time to look back on some of the goals you might have achieved in the past: losing a certain number of pounds, getting the top score in an exam, or getting that job promotion. Now, think of the behaviors, habits, and things you had to do to achieve those goals: diet and exercise, establishing study habits, working hard on being excellent at work, etc.
How many of those habits and behaviors have you continued doing after achieving your goals?
Most of the time, when we think of success as a destination–a finish line to cross–the good habits that we’ve formed along the way are forgotten. After reaching your weight-loss target, acing that exam, or getting the promotion, maybe you’ve slacked off on your fitness regimen and gained back those pounds, or stopped studying diligently and have forgotten everything you’ve learned from school or university. Maybe you’ve grown complacent at work, and now you are the problematic boss who gets on everyone’s nerves because you’ve grown “full of it” after being promoted.
Sometimes, it is to the point that no one can remember you’ve succeeded at all–including you!
But when we think of success as a journey, chances are higher that we value what we’ve learned along the way. The practice of a healthy diet and regular exercise is not just a means to lose weight, but to stay healthy. Studying is no longer a means to an end–to get this subject over with and pass–but a lifelong journey. And success is no longer just about getting a fancy new title, but on how the journey has shaped you as a person and as a professional.
That is why we’ve heard a lot of modern achievers say that when you are setting goals for success, you need to define what success looks like to you, and why it matters.
It isn’t just about What do I want to achieve, but also Why do I want to achieve this?
And when our mindsets toward success shift like that, we begin to see our “done” goals contributing to our next goals. Our success begins to build on itself, and it becomes more sustainable in the long run.
When we treat success as a journey, we also become better leaders. Suddenly, it is no longer just about winning, but, as John Maxwell says, “bringing others with you to the finish line.”
And instead of feeling dragged along by our achievements, sometimes feeling like we’ve lost ourselves and forgetting why we set out on this course in the first place, we are able to savor the moment, the small and big wins, and we experience success more vibrantly.
Plus, we never forget about what we learned, and it builds character that allows us to make a positive influence on the people we lead and the people we love.
Take the time to appreciate the scenery and be fully present in your journey. Thank you for reading A Brilliant Tribe.
