WAHM Forums

Hello Ladies,


I was talking to my hubby tonight and we were talking about success. I discovered that our definitions of success are different. Mine is more based in the home and the family, while his is more based on our bank account. smileys/smiley1.gif


We were talking because with this new company taking off, I wanted us to make a plan so that I could still be a successful mom. We told me that I was going to be very successful with this company. See what I mean? Two totally different ideas there.


So I was thinking this might be a great topic to hear everyone's personal definitions of success. Remember there is no "right" answer and no one is ever wrong. It's all in our own personal dictionary. smileys/smiley2.gif


Just curious,


Brenda

You are right, it is different to everyone.


To me success is setting goals, and reaching them. And if you don't reach them, not giving up.


Debbie

My conversations with my husband are very similar to yours, Brenda. In his eyes success is all in how much and what you have when you're done. To me it's who you are and how you feel. Now these are generalizations but I'm on the way to taking the kids to school. How will I feel when I'm done? Like I successfully have some time to myself!!! smileys/smiley36.gif


Edited by: missyroth

I look at success as categories.

Financial Success</span><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 51);">
Spiritual Success</span><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 51);">
Family Success</span><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 51);">
Job/Career Success</span><br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 51);">


Financially </span>my definition is:
having sufficient $ in an emergency account, being debt free (except
for possibly your house), giving faithfully and generously to your
church. My husband and I currently don't fit ANY of those success
guidelines but have steps in place to ensure that within a few months
we will!



Spiritually</span> my definition would
be first of all having accepted Christ as your Savior. Repenting
of your sins. But also constantly growing in your faith and in
your character. I have accepted Christ and I have a personal
relationship with him. But I'm not happy with where it is.
I want it to be deeper and stronger. I still need to grow in
several...okay LOTS smileys/smiley36.gifof areas. But none of us can be perfect, so I see the culmination of my spiritual success being when I get to heavensmileys/smiley32.gif and am conformed into the image of Christ and no longer

sin.

<br style="font-weight: bold;">
</span>Family success</span>: I don't
have a real definition per se. But I desire a strong-knitted
family that does things together and treats each other with grace,
forgiveness, love, and lots of fun!



Job/Career Success</span>: As
far as direct sales, its okay if i never earn a trip or become in the
top 10. I'd simply like to have a good core of customers who call
for re-orders and occasionally send in a show or book a show.
Which is not a huge goal, but I want more regularity with the orders to
truly feel successful.</span>



Other jobs</span>--I strive to be the best. I don't want to be a good employee, I want to be THE best.smileys/smiley4.gif
I feel successful right now with both my part time jobs. The
bosses seem to really like my work, schedule me for more hours than
other workers, trust me with more things, etc. So I'm happy with
that!!!smileys/smiley1.gifsmileys/smiley1.gif





</span>

Hi Ladies! Some encouragement here for you- "Strive to do your best" -another way of looking at success.


Rosalee Decker- www.ywave.com/~zelmyrs/

Success to me is not really about my</span>
success per se, but the success of others and how have I helped them
become successful. That can mean a variety of things. Have I helped
them overcome fear of speaking in public? Or, helped them gain
confidence? Have I helped them gain financially by training them
properly? Are they a happier person now that they can work from
home? Stuff like that!

Well, here's to wishing success to all of us...whatever our definition is.


Cheers smileys/smiley32.gif

Success to me is knowing that I've made a difference in someone's life: family,business partners, friends.


I know it's a struggle, but I try not to get carried away with the "world's" definition of success (money, fame, power, fortune), but instead TRY to keep an eye on the success God has in store. What His plans are...


Tammy, I like how you broke down your definition into those main areas.smileys/smiley32.gif We are need to focus on each area.This is agreatreminder tokeep "the balance". smileys/smiley1.gif


Sarah

Amen Tammy!! I'm all about what you said girlfriend!! With Christ on our side, no matter how small or insignificant our sales or whatever seem to us or the world, we are abundantly blessed. When we only make $20 from a show or an order, thats $20 that GOD gave us and we glorify Him through what we do. There is no greater joy than someone asking how something happened and getting to say, God did it!!!


I know that was more than what you said but I know we feel the same about it. When we have Christ as our number 1 priority everything else is successful, no matter what the outside world sees. We feel a blessing in every single situation. Because of Him in our lives, we are automatically successful and humbled because of it.


Ok, none of that probably made sense to anyone,lol. But I guess that's kind of my take on my success or I should say, God's success cuz it's all His and His doing!


LOL, sorry if any of that came off weird. I'm EXHAUSTED!! God Bless y'all!!

To be success is doing what I want, when I want.

This is a great thread because it brings up an interesting point, Success is what we define it as. More often than not our view of success is alter by what the outside world promotes. What we must learn to do is focus on our goals to reach our personal plan for success. If we really don't know what success means to ourselves, what is the point?

It is funny because in my mind I am successful whenever I feel as if the Lord is looking on me and saying "well done good and faithful servant". I feel successful when I tithe because I know I am sowing seed and that what I have done with my finances is in line with what God would have me to do. Often when we are leaving church and my whole family is walking to the car I just look around at them and feel successful. Last week I was terribly upset about something and sitting in the living room trying not to cry because the girls were home and my 7 year old came in and asked if she could share a scripture with me! Praise the Lord! I felt very successful in that moment. I had actually just lost my job but felt a tremendous feeling of success. I would like to have more money but because I know that I always have what the Lord wants me to have that is not a huge focus. It will come when HE knows that I will use it according to His will.


I love this thread because its true that everyone defines success differently.


Dana

You know Dana, what you said about being blessed with more financially when the Lord knows you'll use it according to His will strikes a chord with me. I feel blessed for every single thing that happens in my life but I sometimes struggle with not making as much money as I want (huge capital I there!) for a little bit and then I stop and realize I have what God wants me to have right now. I remember what Dani Johnson says on one of her Christian calls and it's "God will bless you with more when He can trust you with what you already have". My husband and I are certainly not as responsible as we should be with everything He's blessed us with and I know when we become trustworthy with what He's already given us, He'll give us more but we have to use it for His will not our own first.


This is such a thought provoking thread in many ways. It has made me think about so many things and feel so blessed to be "successful" through Christ and want to be more so to Glorify Him.


God Bless!

"God will bless you with more when He can trust you with what you already have".




yep, yep YEP! </span>




(</font>and we certainly are not all that trustworthy with what He has given us. But we're working on it!)smileys/smiley9.gif</font></font>

I think we go through many "Success" stages. What seemed like success years ago, is not success today for some of us.


When I graduated college and started on my way to a successful career in Broadcasting, I set a goal to be in a certain position at a certain time. I reached that goal and then I said.. now what?


Then I had kids and thought... this is cool. But what about that successful job? Can I leave that success for another? Will I find Success and professional happiness? I honestly didn't think I would.


But, I think I have! I have really found something that has made me happy personally and professionally. I feel like I'm contributing at home and to society which is what I personally need for "Success."


I really feel blessed to be able to find success "Twice."


Susan Scarborough Smith / Star Director

I think Debbie said it best - it is setting goals, and reaching them - whatever that may be for you personally. If Sally has 14 shows per month and Susie only has 4 shows per month - is Sally anymore of a success than Susie - of couse not - maybe it was Susie's goal to have 4 shows per month and Sally's goal to have 14 - See what I mean?!


Success stands for:


S - Select your goal


U - unlock your personal potential


C - Commit yourself to your plan


C - Chart your course


E - Expect problems


S - Stand Firm on your committment


S - Surrender everything to God





Nora

Oh, this is so ironic today. I just started reading the book, Your Road Map for Success, by John Maxwell. In it, he defines success as :


Knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.


I'm only 13 pages into this book and already it is having a tremendous impact on me. I'd strongly suggest it to everyone here.