Career success How do you define it

What does it mean to women to be successful? What does "success" in your job mean to you? It is obvious that, based on our core beliefs, the experiences we've had, and the phases of life we're now in, it has a variety of various connotations for everyone of us. But do you have a good understanding of what it means for you at this moment?

Because you put in a significant amount of effort and time into growing your profession, it makes perfect sense for you to define what constitutes your own personal success and remove any confusion out of the way.

Throughout history and in popular culture, professional achievement has been judged in terms of one's level of wealth, power, and prominence. However, as our lives and the demographics of the workforce continue to evolve, the concept of what constitutes a masculine paradigm is also evolving.

When I talk to different women about their careers, I find that many of them reach a moment when they realize there is a mismatch between what they thought they wanted and what they are now working towards. When they formerly felt compelled to climb the corporate ladder and put in long hours in order to achieve "success," many now find that concept of success to be lacking in substance.

Even when they accomplish what society has historically considered to be success, such as a job that comes with a hefty salary check, an outstanding title, and the ability to affect the results, they are still left wanting more. Many women do not believe that power or wealth alone can solve their problems.

However, this does not mean that women do not place a high value on financial security. Being paid what one is worth has less to do with power and position and more to do with financial stability, a lifestyle of one's choosing, and options.

According to the findings of a survey that was conducted by Citi and LinkedIn and published in 2012, professional women are more likely to judge their level of work success based on their financial stability and their ability to maintain healthy relationships.

Over the course of the last several years, I have had many conversations with groups of highly accomplished professional women in which the topic of the meaning of work success has been brought up.

What I've discovered is that women evaluate the success of their careers using a variety of metrics, including conventional ones like money, outcomes, and accomplishments, as well as more subjective ones like the following:

Feeling fulfilled

Putting one's efforts into meaningful labor

Receiving appreciation and acknowledgment for their efforts and contributions

Having the possibility for advancement and the ability to make an effect

Upkeep of one's healthy state

Obtaining financial security in order to enjoy one's lifestyle and make choices

establishing meaningful connections on both a personal and business level

Possessing the adaptability necessary to properly combine one's personal and professional lives

Working under conditions that enable individuals to keep their genuineness and honesty intact

It takes some introspection to pinpoint exactly what it is that you want out of your professional life.

Because of how intensely personal it is, it very certainly will evolve over the course of time.

During the early stages of my profession, I equated success with advancement, recognition, and outcomes. And there is no question in anyone's mind that I appreciated the tiny success milestones along the way, such as receiving my first business card, going on my first business trip over state lines using the corporate credit card, and being recognized for outstanding performance on a specific project.

Now, the quality of my life and the options I have for my lifestyle are far more important to me than the success of my career. My capacity to be financially secure, maintain excellent health, have satisfying relationships, and keep up with my hectic lifestyle while splitting my time between Melbourne and Sydney are the criteria I use to evaluate the success of my professional endeavors.

Working with a large number of successful professional women has taught me that the key to achieving personal and professional fulfillment lies not in conforming to preconceived notions about what constitutes success or in meeting the standards set by other people for us, but rather in formulating career objectives that are congruent with who we are as individuals.

Let's talk about what you consider to be successful in your profession.

Are the same things that were important to you when you were just starting out in your profession still important to you now? Has this evolved throughout the course of time?

What do you consider to be the most important aspects of your own personal success?

Does your present position satisfy the criteria you've set for your professional success?

Does the route that you are currently on with your work seem like it is in line with who you are and the things that are most important to you?

In general, women have a distinct conception of what constitutes professional success compared to the traditional understanding of the term. Be sure that you are basing your goals and standards on the things that are most important to you... not a picture of success that has been conditioned by society.