How Important Is Career Success? You Tell Us!

How important is Career Success to you? Chances are, your answer won’t be the same as your neighbor’s. It will also differ from the response that your partner, parents, or colleagues may give.

That’s because while most of us will take this journey at some point in our lives, it’s a personal pursuit. There’s no clear-cut, single path toward professional fulfillment. We will all approach it and prioritize it differently.

What does it mean to you? There’s no right or wrong answer, but it’s important to ask yourself this question. When you can visualize the destination in front of you, it’s easier to get there.

Today, we’re taking a look at how to use personal motivators to achieve Career Success on your terms. Turn it from vision to reality.

What is the definition of Career Success?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed or even confused when you think about the concept of Career Success. The term alone can feel lofty and out of reach. It feels like something you can work toward but never get. Will you even know when you’ve reached this pinnacle? Or, will you always be striving toward some unobtainable goal or ideal of perfect balance? How important is Career Success in your life?

The answer becomes clear when you approach Career Success in more accessible terms. This isn’t a proclamation from the Wizard of Oz: held just out of reach, no matter how much you want it. Rather, it’s a practical roadmap that anyone can follow.

We define Career Success as experiencing financial health and work you enjoy while feeling fulfilled in your peer community and life choices.

It’s more than landing that dream job or earning that all-star salary. If you get there to find that you’re burnt out, exhausted, and stretched too thin, success is still out of reach. True success hinges on contentment, community, and connection. When your work brings you alive and allows you to earn enough to support your lifestyle, you've hit the magical balance.

As you can imagine, these initiatives will look different for everyone. Ask yourself the following:

• What kind of work brings you alive?
• How much money is enough to support your life, and those who depend on you?
• What kind of connections inspire and motivate you?
• When you picture being content with your job, where does your mind go?

You can use questions like these to give clarity to your brainstorming sessions. As you break the journey into smaller, more concrete steps, you’ll move forward.

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What does Career Success look like in practice?

It’s easy to get stars in your eyes when you think about your dream job. But, it’s also important to think about it in practical terms.

• What do you enjoy doing when you clock out, or when Friday afternoon comes around?
• Does your idea of Career Success fit into your current habits?
• Consider your life and the people within it. How would they feel about your goals?
• Will you need to make some major changes to bring Career Success to fruition?
• How are your goals working to shape your perception of Career Success?
• Envision your day-to-day life once you reach all your goals. Are those routines realistic and will they fulfill your needs?
• How important is Career Success in comparison to your other priorities?

As you ponder these questions, you may find that your vision changes a little, and that’s okay! Allow your daydream to be flexible. Stay open to what you might discover about yourself as you dig deeper into your future ambitions.

What goals have you set toward Career Success?

As you look down the road, the journey to Career Success can seem long and winding. This brings us to a question that may seem unrelated, but applies in context: How do you eat an elephant?

It’s a silly inquiry, but the answer is poignant: One bite at a time.

When tackling huge goals or big problems, think less about the size of the situation. Focus more on what you can control in the present. Piece by piece, step by step, you can turn a massive dream into something you can hold, manipulate, and control.

The key is to set goals, and set them early. Think about the plans you need to put into place today to get where you want to be in the future.

• Do you need to go back to school?
• Will you need advanced certifications?
• Are there people you need to connect with who can help you find new opportunities?

Write these goals down and track your progress as you work toward them. Creating and starting the route is half the battle. Acknowledge your progress every time you inch forward.

What value does Career Success bring to your life?

When you achieve Career Success, what will life look like for you and those around you? How important is Career Success to your lifestyle?

Let's say you’re only changing careers because you want to stand out in your neighborhood. You won't find fulfillment when that new title doesn’t bring you the clout you expected. It's more likely you'll keep changing careers again and again. That’s because there’s no real, inherent value in that goal.

On the other hand, if Career Success means less anxiety over finances and more peace in your home, the value is high. Consider the doors that will unlock. Tension will calm, and your relationships will thrive reaching that destination.

If those changes will add meaning and purpose to your life, they’re well worth the work it takes to get there.

What happens if you don’t work toward Career Success?

When you consider all that you need to do to reach Career Success, it can seem tempting to sit by the wayside. This is especially the case if your current job is comfortable. You know what to expect from one day to the next, the benefits plan is solid, and your co-workers are kind. Why should you strive for anything more?

Complacency might feel good at first, but it’s one of the biggest roadblocks to true fulfillment. You may start to feel as though you’re not being adequately compensated for the work you’re performing. The more you stay in your position, the better you become. If your earnings aren’t growing as you do, bitterness can brew.

Next, you may begin to feel stuck. Your job growth will seem limited, along with your ability to move within different roles. If ambition isn’t what drives you, then you may also be passed over for promotions.

Eventually, all these dominos stack up and the crash occurs. The final stage of complacency is resentment. Work becomes a chore, something to dread. This anxiety bleeds over into other parts of your life. It can make it difficult to remain happy and engaged at home or in your hobbies.

Working toward Career Success

Know what you want and need

How important is Career Success to you? As mentioned earlier, think about your immediate and long-term career goals. Maybe you’ve already set them, and you’re actively working toward them. Or, perhaps you haven’t thought that far ahead yet, and this is a new process for you.

Either way, write down small, specific steps you can take to move forward. As you do so, you’ll start to realize what you need to do now to achieve what you want to do later.

Look for Learning and Growth Opportunities

Chances are, you don’t yet possess all the knowledge, training, and experience you need to reach your goals. That’s the way it’s supposed to be! Even when you think you’ve reached the top”, there’s always room to grow.

Look for opportunities that will allow you to develop in your chosen field, no matter what that might be. This may mean finding a mentor, so you can ask questions and learn from their expertise. You may also decide to sign up for a Workshop or connect with a community of like-minded people.

As you progress into this journey, don’t assume that the importance of connection will wane. Keep looking for opportunities that will support your lifelong learning and growth. No matter how many finish lines you cross or goals you mark off your list, growth is essential. It keeps you motivated!

Build your network

As you strive for Career Success, a major component will be the people you surround yourself with. Build a strong network of support that’s constantly growing and evolving. It’s easier to weather the setbacks and capitalize on the victories if you do.

As you work with others, you’ll have the opportunity to receive unbiased feedback on your work. This helps you improve. You can incorporate these notes into your future work. This will help you strengthen your skills and grow your potential.

Career Success Is Personal (and Possible!)

Your path to Career Success will be different from anyone else’s. Yet, there is a common thread that unites you all: You’re the ones behind the wheel!

You’re in control of where your career takes you. But before you can determine the route forward, you need to figure out where you want it to lead. As you explore the questions in this post, we’re here to help you define and develop your idea of success.

At Uvaro, we’ve helped thousands of members jumpstart their Career Success journey. We offer resources, including live Courses and daily Workshops, to equip you with the skills you need.

Join us today and download our Career Success Catalog to learn more and get started!