What Career Success Means to You

Start by choosing your own yardstick

Picture two colleagues. One wants to lead a large team; the other wants to stay hands-on in their field, make time for family, and have the freedom to plan their day. Neither vision is automatically better. The problem arises when someone tries to succeed by standards they never chose for themselves.

Start with three questions: “What do I want my work to contribute?”, “What must my work allow me to do outside the job?”, and “What am I no longer willing to give up for higher pay or status?” Be specific. Instead of “I want balance,” try “I want most evenings free from work calls.”

Distinguish between a goal and a condition. A goal might be learning to lead projects. A condition might be keeping your commute within a manageable range. If you blur the two, an appealing offer can distract you from what matters most.

Your priorities can change over time. Your needs after school may differ from those you have while caring for family or running a business. So don’t treat your answers as a permanent definition of who you are.

Put it into practice: Choose three indicators that would tell you, a year from now, that your work situation had improved. Add a specific, observable sign for each one. Then ask yourself whether your current job already lets you meet at least one of them.