Four years ago as my 40th birthday loomed on the horizon, I began to realize that my idea of success had always involved making A LOT of money, traveling the world and enjoying life. The problem was that I’d put everything except work on hold until I achieved that lifestyle. The reality that I was approaching 40 caused a bit of panic to set in as I came to the realization that I may never be the gazillionaire I set out to become. And if that did not happen, what had I spent my life doing other than working? And not even working on my own goals, since I even put my career goals aside to build a business with my husband for 15+ years.
Then I started asking…
Have I stepped aside for too long?
Do I still have time to pursue my dreams?
What would happen if I kept working at this pace for the next 20 years and never reached the gazillionaire mark?
What if I never allowed myself to enjoy life right…AS IS?
Almost every book I’ve read on success talks about enjoy the journey, enjoy the journey, blah, blah, blah. I just didn’t see how I could, I had too much work to do and the success I was working for was just around the next corner, THEN I could slow down and enjoy life. The problem was, the next corner continued to stay just out of my reach.
And yet, I still didn’t think I needed to listen to the wisdom of those who’ve come before me. Why do that? I could just blaze a new trail instead of learning from someone who has already cleared the path. I never truly understood the meaning or importance of enjoying the journey until the moment I realized…if I don’t learn to enjoy my life just the way it is, I may never get to enjoy life at all.
Doing it ‘my way’ did not seem to be working. I was not pursuing my dreams, my business was running me instead of me running the business, I was too busy to socialize, to be creative or to be physically fit. I looked in the mirror and the person looking back was not who I envisioned myself being.
That was just the wake up call I needed! I began to re-evaluate the meaning of success and stop making it’s only definition based on how much money is in my bank account. I kept thinking to succeed I had to be someone else instead of the best ME I can be! I began to realize that I AM SUCCESSFUL right now, in many ways each day. I didn’t ever acknowledge those successes though, I was only gauging success through dollar signs. I started making time to workout, eat healthy, be creative, spend time in the mountains, enjoy my life each day and rediscover my own dreams and goals!
And now…It’s Time To Succeed!
Right now, TODAY, right where I am!
I’ve reached a point where I really do believe that success depends on my ability to find balance in all areas of my life. Working all the time was not getting me what I wanted, so it certainly couldn’t hurt to enjoy myself along the way. What’s the worst that could happen? I might not get what I want? Already been there, done that. I must say, I’m still not a gazillionaire, but I am happier, more at peace and feel successful now while I enjoy the journey.
