To me, being successful means...
The ability and means to share experiences with my loved ones and the confidence to make myself vulnerable enough to constantly expand that group.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I stopped assuming that success for me was what it meant to others.
To me, being successful means...
Freedom to realize potential, realize potential, follow the desires of your hear.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Earlier in life it was attached to monetary / professional wins.
To me, being successful means...
loving my life and making the world a better place.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Striving to do the best at whatever I do. Leading a positive example for/and watching my children grow up to be good people.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
being happy in life
My definition of success has changed over time.
I am less focused on making money.
To me, being successful means...
Being balanced.
My definition of success has changed over time.
It used to be more about money and material things, now it is about being happy.
To me, being successful means...
Being true to yourself. Following your dreams. Finding what makes you happy. Being comfortable with your place in life.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Not really. I always wanted to make my way. I never really bought into all of society's ideas of who or what I should be.
To me, being successful means...
Having healthy relationships with my family, my community, a God of my own understanding and myself.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think my career and hobbies were the most important. Then I realized my idea of success was based on self glorification.
To me, being successful means...
Being happy, being grateful, and being able to help others / contribute positively to society in a meaningful way.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
I don't really know. I was lucky that I was never wired super tightly in high school to think of college and grades as my end-all be-all. I do think now I define success less in terms of my personal accomplishments and more about what is important for my community, company, city, and family.
To me, being successful means...
Having a life that glorifies God, that shows how He is working in you and through you to help others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Some things that I first thought would be failures were really part of the path toward a success in helping others.
To me, being successful means...
Finding balance, continuing to work toward your priorities -- keep them in sight; your personal well-being should be one of your priorities; learning to know and respect yourself.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Less focused on titles and resume bullets, more focused on well-being and impact on those around me.
To me, being successful means...
Personal contentment with that choices I've made. Enjoying laughter, music, dancing, poetry, museums, concerts and the great outdoors because there is nothing like the weather, flora and fauna we grew up with anywhere else.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Career path equals money equals happiness is no longer a belief! More like a myth!
To me, being successful means...
Having a loving family and the means to support whatever endeavors they want to pursue.
My definition of success has not changed over time
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Maintaining my happiness.
My definition of success has changed over time.
There is no dollar amount or title that can fulfill my success, which I initially believed. It's a matter of a work life balance that allows me to do the things in life that make me happy.
To me, being successful means...
I believe that success is defined as being happy with all aspects of your life. In order to do that, one must work hard to achieve that success. For me to be happy, I want to work at a job that I look forward to going to everyday and that pays well. That means I will need to get a college degree and make myself marketable. Success and happiness are intrinsically linked. I do not believe that you can be truly successful without being happy.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I always thought growing up that success was all about having a lot of money and living in a big house but that perception changed once I moved out of Palo Alto and went off to college. I also was grown up thinking in high school that if you don't go to an Ivy League school, you will be a failure in life. That perception really changed when I graduated from [high school name omitted].
To me, being successful means...
Having been a good husband, father, brother,son and a respectable of others
My definition of success has not changed over time.
At first it was how much money I could make to be successful then I learned how to be #1 answer!
To me, being successful means...
Leading a happy, productive life.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Helping others while reaching my own goals.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreTo me, being successful means...
Being happy. To be happy I consider 3 factors - my healthy, my friends/family in my life and the work that I do. Therefore I ask myself – am I in good health? Do I have friends and family in my life that care for me and vice versa? Do I wake up every day content with what’s in my life or am I unhappy? Am I able to make an impact and help people on a weekly basis? If I can answer yes, then I can feel successful.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Yes. I previously thought that to be successful you had to have a job, any job. Now I think it’s a bit more than just having a job. You have to have a balance of good things in your life and it’s certainly not all about having a job. It’s about having the opportunity to experience good things in your life and that can come from a result of relationships, traveling, reading, listening to music, living in a place like the Bay Area, etc.
This is a collection of anonymous life and career stories from Palo Alto alumni for everyone. They shatter the myth that there is only one path to success.
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