Here’s a new way to think about success.
We all have goals. Sometimes the goal is something big, like starting a business or earning a degree. And sometimes the goal is simply to make it to Friday. But no matter where we are in life, we’re always looking toward something we want.
Looking ahead can motivate us. It gives us direction. But there’s a problem: when we focus too much on what we don’t have yet, we can unintentionally create stress, frustration, or disappointment. We tell ourselves:
When I get the promotion, I’ll be successful.
When I graduate, I’ll be happy.
When I retire, I’ll finally be able to relax.
But what if success isn’t something that only happens when we finish the goal?
What if we are successful while we are in the process of getting there?
Earl Nightingale defined success as “the progressive realization of a worthy goal.”Meaning: if you are making progress — even slowly — you are already successful.
Success is not about reaching the finish line. It’s about recognizing the meaning in the steps you’re taking every day. If you spend your whole life chasing the end result but never allow yourself to feel successful along the way, you miss the entire point of having goals in the first place.
The key is to stay enthusiastic about your goal and enjoy the journey that gets you there.
So take a moment and think about your goals. Think about the effort you’ve already put in — the learning, the growing, the showing up even when it wasn’t easy.
That’s not someday-success. That’s success now.
Recognizing the journey is exactly what makes you successful.