I'm giving a presentation this week at the Canadian Golf Course Management Conference called the Seven Characteristics of Successful Superintendents. One of the challenging components is simply defining success. The Oxford dictionary offers two definitions “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose” and “the attainment of fame, wealth or social status”.
What is your definition of success? Have you even considered what success looks or feels like in your career and life?
In considering the success of others, fame, wealth or social status are the common indicators of success. Of these three, wealth is probably what would most often be found in personal definitions of success as society demands we have sufficient income for the basic components of survival – food, warmth and shelter. But there has to be more to it than just money.
Author Stephen Covey suggests that if you carefully consider what you want to be said of you at your funeral, you will find your personal definition of success. This implies that your values, family, relationships, career accomplishments and contributions to society would all factor in to a personal definition of success.
Over the next few months I plan to expand on some of the characteristics of successful people. My goal is to better understand the actions we can take to have richer and more more fulfilling careers and lives. I hope you’ll join my community receive notice of future postings.
Please share your thoughts and comments.