2 answers
Casson
Student
East Hartford, Connecticut
2
Questions
Asked
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When does one determine when they have made it and is successful?
I'm asking because I cannot imagine myself in the future at the moment, so I am curious about when that feeling comes and what that feeling actually is. #success
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2 answers
Donald Knapik
VP/ Founding Member at DO iT, LLC
77
Answers
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Updated
Donald’s Answer
Dear Casson,
This is a fabulous question and is one that most of us gets to ask ourselves many times during our career (and life) journey. I used to ask this same question of many people I met during my career. They were the ones whom I thought "must have made it". They ranged from Professors at Harvard Business School, industry leaders, to people working in factories. My question was typically, "How much do you have to make?" It really wasn't even the right question, but it was the start of my exploration of what "it" was.
The answers I received were as different as the people I asked and many marked or determined that success at numerous times during their lives. Some people simply had a financial goal, others had educational goals, others had making there "mark" in their career or personal life goal. Many had a menu of goals and accomplishments they hoped to acheive. The one element that seems to be common to all is that whatever it is, it's yours to discover and yours to achieve.
So what does "it" feel like? Start by asking yourself this question, "If I had all the resources necessary, intellectual, financial, personal etc, and if there was no possibility that I might fail, what is it that I would do? Take some time...really think about it. Try and be as specific as you can and write it all down. Then, relax and think of how you might feel like, sitting in your favorite place, in your favorite chair reviewing all the "things" you wrote down as if you had accomplished them all. If those things were indeed your goals, and you worked very hard towards it/ you'll "make it" many times and the more times you do, the better it gets.
It also is likely to change over time, You'll have "bumps" in the road too. Just know that there are very few people who go through a lifetime without setbacks, challenges and having to deal with things that are out of their control. You will have these events the most of us have, and that, like most people, you will hopefully work your way through too.
One of the times I felt that "I made it" was when I finally realized that: I loved doing the work in the career I chose. I used to tell people I didn't have to work here....I get to work here. The work was socially relevant, environmentally important and earned a minor place in the history of my industry. It allowed me an education that involved some of the best schools, I was able to travel the world and there were some financial rewards too. Now, I didn't just decide that "I made it" one day. For me it was progressive and was an important source of inspiration and incentive throughout my career. Oh, there were plenty of bumps on the way too!
So, the "it" changes as you go through life. What seemed a very important accomplishment early on, later may turn out to be just another step to something else. " I'm retired at this point and have more years of work behind me than I care to say and my perception of success today is perhaps more inclusive than it ever was in the past. It includes personal things ( my kids went through college debt free, my wife finished her MBA and PHD , we are financially sound, we can go and pretty much do what we want, we support many causes and have a support group of new and old friends....It's a very good feeling. When I ride by the school I helped create, knowing thousands of people have been trained there; that is a great feeling. Watching a product I helped create being used....well, it's also a really good feeling.
And getting to tell this story and hoping that it helps you on your journey - that's an excellent feeling too. I hope this makes sense and wish you good health and fortune as you move along your road of life. And I trust you will get to experience many intense feelings of confidence, satisfaction and accomplishment...that is, in my opinion, "The Good Life".
Sincerely,
Don Knapik
This is a fabulous question and is one that most of us gets to ask ourselves many times during our career (and life) journey. I used to ask this same question of many people I met during my career. They were the ones whom I thought "must have made it". They ranged from Professors at Harvard Business School, industry leaders, to people working in factories. My question was typically, "How much do you have to make?" It really wasn't even the right question, but it was the start of my exploration of what "it" was.
The answers I received were as different as the people I asked and many marked or determined that success at numerous times during their lives. Some people simply had a financial goal, others had educational goals, others had making there "mark" in their career or personal life goal. Many had a menu of goals and accomplishments they hoped to acheive. The one element that seems to be common to all is that whatever it is, it's yours to discover and yours to achieve.
So what does "it" feel like? Start by asking yourself this question, "If I had all the resources necessary, intellectual, financial, personal etc, and if there was no possibility that I might fail, what is it that I would do? Take some time...really think about it. Try and be as specific as you can and write it all down. Then, relax and think of how you might feel like, sitting in your favorite place, in your favorite chair reviewing all the "things" you wrote down as if you had accomplished them all. If those things were indeed your goals, and you worked very hard towards it/ you'll "make it" many times and the more times you do, the better it gets.
It also is likely to change over time, You'll have "bumps" in the road too. Just know that there are very few people who go through a lifetime without setbacks, challenges and having to deal with things that are out of their control. You will have these events the most of us have, and that, like most people, you will hopefully work your way through too.
One of the times I felt that "I made it" was when I finally realized that: I loved doing the work in the career I chose. I used to tell people I didn't have to work here....I get to work here. The work was socially relevant, environmentally important and earned a minor place in the history of my industry. It allowed me an education that involved some of the best schools, I was able to travel the world and there were some financial rewards too. Now, I didn't just decide that "I made it" one day. For me it was progressive and was an important source of inspiration and incentive throughout my career. Oh, there were plenty of bumps on the way too!
So, the "it" changes as you go through life. What seemed a very important accomplishment early on, later may turn out to be just another step to something else. " I'm retired at this point and have more years of work behind me than I care to say and my perception of success today is perhaps more inclusive than it ever was in the past. It includes personal things ( my kids went through college debt free, my wife finished her MBA and PHD , we are financially sound, we can go and pretty much do what we want, we support many causes and have a support group of new and old friends....It's a very good feeling. When I ride by the school I helped create, knowing thousands of people have been trained there; that is a great feeling. Watching a product I helped create being used....well, it's also a really good feeling.
And getting to tell this story and hoping that it helps you on your journey - that's an excellent feeling too. I hope this makes sense and wish you good health and fortune as you move along your road of life. And I trust you will get to experience many intense feelings of confidence, satisfaction and accomplishment...that is, in my opinion, "The Good Life".
Sincerely,
Don Knapik
Kimberly Nichols
System Administrator, Digital Customer Success Management
1
Answer
Asheville, North Carolina
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
Much of feeling like you’ve made it is about attitude. Some would say being born in the US alone gets you halfway there. For me, creating a life of intention has been incredibly important. Many people fall into societal expectations instead of really getting to know themselves first. This often leads to burnout professionally and divorces/parenting too early on the personal side. In my version of “made it”, I’m happy to go to work each day because my co-workers are excellent and thoughtful humans, and the work I do is interesting. I’ve purposely chosen a career in a field which is in high demand and technical enough to command a decent salary because I know that traveling and my hobbies are important to me, and those things cost money. I live in a place I’ve always wanted to live in, and am surrounded by like minded people and beautiful mountains. I think it’s important to think way beyond money when you think of long term goals. Craft a life you love in your mind and then gather the required steps to get there, keeping in mind there may be many different paths. If you don’t even know where to start because the typical college path looks boring, do something unexpected like going to electrician school or teaching English abroad.