How do you define success? Do you feel successful? If so, what did it take to get you there?

Success for me is the ability to listen to my inner guidance; provide a life-changing service to my guests/clients; spend quality time with my loved ones; and, provide a sustainable livelihood for my family. I absolutely feel successful and have for a really long time, as soon as I started listening to myself. Sometimes it takes a great question like yours to perform that reflection which creates an opportunity to experience that confirmation and gratitude.

I have been a co-owner of Ten Tigers Kung Fu Academy, Huntington, for 10 years now.  I feel I am very successful because I love what I do here.  I work hard everyday, sometimes I even struggle to make ends meet, however, at the end of the day, I feel #1, I did my best and #2, I feel very content at my results.  

How do you define success? Great question. If you are accomplishing what you set out to do - then you are successful. Success is totally subjective. It is in the eyes of the beholding. I have been self-employed for over 20 years - stats would suggest if you have been in business for more than 15 years - you are a member of a very limited club. Most businesses don't survive year 5. If you get to a point in your business where you can pick and choose who you do business with - then you are successful. If you love what you are doing - and get up every day looking forward to doing what you do - then you are successful. However, to be a successful entrepreneur you need to decide what price you are willing to pay. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. If you aren't comfortable flying without a net - then entrepreneurship is not for you. You have to decide what success will look like for you - and then do everything you can do to make it happen. 

Success is gained and measured in the following ways:

Doing something better than anyone else and charging more than anyone else.

Training your staff better than everyone else and retraining them every year.

A marketing plan that shows your focus on excellence.

A clever website that has more customer reviews than any competitor.

Strong Quality control measurements provided by questionnaires to all clients. 

Strong and continued business growth.

Strong profitability

When you have your ducks all lined up an ISO:9001:2015 registration is the answer.

Smile and think positive about everything and with 50 years experience I mean everything.

Good luck

 

In business success is measured in many ways. I am not really sure how successful I am in that area I just know I am not a total failure. As far as how did I get there? My passion for teaching the martial arts, is so intense every time I share it with anyone I feel successful. I have trained tens of thousands of people over the years. An I know in every case that even if was for only day I have help make them safer and improved there quality of life. From a money stand point which is how most businesses are gauged. I am nowhere near the level I should be if I were to compared. 

So in business to be considered successful you have to make a lot of money. If not a lot then at least enough to cover all your expenses. Allowing you to operate without stress. 

as a nonprofit by being able to keep your doors open in NYC, defines a form of success, as a  large majority of non profits have fallen by the way side, and the other is a good reputation which takes years to establish is another way the success of this center has come to be recognized in the world of holistic learning across the country. As for profitability  this is a mission based business so other factors are involved compared to for-profit organizations.

Success in my business is when I see my students become successful in their lives.  I feel successful.  It took hard work, passion for what I do and selecting the right staff (when I could afford it) to help me help my students evolve into the good citizens they are meant to be.

 after being in the business 26 years... And also being scared to death when I open my own shop, I measure success this way... Having Generations coming back for repeat business

I like your question, Jaclyn!

I am a French businesswoman but also a coach so I would like to share with you that I cannot dissociate mind, body, image, career, and wellness. I work on all the aspects to connect them together. I base my efforts on this equation to go to the success!

 Mind+Body+Synergy => Happiness I Wellness I Fulfillment

I am living and working in Los Angeles. I started a new concept for emerging designers around the World. I speak English with an accent. I work with three languages. It was difficult. I didn't really know the American fashion world. How did I do what I wanted? With the equation above!

Now, I am sharing what I learned. I have courses on different e-learning platforms and this is, for me to be successful! The Power to share what I've learned in my life. So in short, my definition of success is sharing what I have learned with others.

I think "success" involves having an openness to learn for all of life's different experiences and people. For example, every day I am learning from my Millennial staff and this is a gift!

I just began a blog: www.sixtyandnotagranny.com for women looking to redefine success  at every age.

Best wishes,

Sylvie
  

Thank you all for the amazing and helpful answers! You all have such passion and commitment!