98 Lawmama
/To me, being successful means...
A loving family, rewarding work and a comfortable existence.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Used to be all about money.
There are many paths to medical school
/To me, being successful means...
Pushing myself to learn more every day, to be a better person every day, to enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. It means not wasting the precious time I have in my life, on making a difference in the world as much as I can.
My definition of success has changed over time.
When I was in high school I thought there was a rigid path to success. That the only way I could succeed was by getting the right grades, doing the right things and picking the right career. As I got older, I realized that there are many different paths to the same place. I am lucky to have had the opportunities that Palo Alto afforded me, to have gained the work ethic that I did there. But it wasn't my grades that defined me, it was my experiences.
Grateful [high school] Alum
/To me, being successful means...
Finding meaning and fulfillment in your relationships, your work, and your contributions to the common good.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I care less about professional "success" and now measure personal success by how much time I have to read, hangout with family and friends, travel, and volunteer.
UCSD, Computer Science, CA
/To me, being successful means...
A solid, 6 figure job after college and attendance in a tier 1 college
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreHoping my journey to be a part of change has mattered
/To me, being successful means...
Getting to a place in your life when you offer advice and opinions without looking around the room for confirmation that you gave the right answer.
My definition of success has changed over time.
Not about money or position but about a confidence that you know you are now the grown up in the room.
Chess Instructor & Master-level Player; Statistical Analyst
/To me, being successful means...
Being able to relax and enjoy life. Specifically, not having a high stress career, and having friends that are similarly laid back.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to think of success in terms of being able to make a lot money and probably having some kind of high tech job. But it's a big world out there with a lot of time to find what you are passionate about.
UC San Diego, Scientist and Nurse, California
/To me, being successful means...
having strong, positive relationships in my life, being a good role model for my kids, having a strong sense of who I am and what matters to me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I think when I was younger, it was more financially based and/or making some discovery of major impact on the world
Medical student and academic researcher
/To me, being successful means...
Loving yourself, loving a craft or finding a passion, and loving others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition has changed from a "paper chase" perspective, where I thought achieving high academic marks was most important, to something related more to what simply makes me happy.
Still figuring things out
/To me, being successful means...
Making a positive difference in the world so that it's at least a little better when you left it than when you entered it.
My definition of success has changed over time.
My definition of success is much less oriented towards personal achievement now than it was when I was, say, in high school.
Mother, wife, caregiver and joyful member of the Universe
/To me, being successful means...
Finding joy each day in something: be it an action I perform, an interaction with family, friends, colleagues, an experience in nature or a story I hear. Joy is a deep happiness that comes from within which is what makes life meaningful and keeps me grounded despite external conditions. Being happy with what I have, where I am in life and career. I do not base my success on comparisons with others.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I now know that success is internal. It is not defined by my outward conditions and materialistic trappings but who I am as a person and a member of society. Success is my own view of fulfilling the destiny life has laid out for me by being true to my beliefs.
Real Life
/To me, being successful means...
Discovering, accepting, and celebrating who I am and my unique potential to influence the world around me.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I used to have a vague sense of what success was. Never being particularly career or money driven, I always tended to relish the moment and dream of the future. I had pictures in my mind of who I wanted to be as a person, not necessarily what I was doing.
Find your park
/To me, being successful means...
Finding your own version of happiness. Balancing commitments to work, family, and self without giving too much of oneself to any one thing.
My definition of success has and has not changed over time.
Yes and no. I think I've felt that feeling good about the work that I do and the contribution I make is important; it's just the focus of my work has changed. Creating a happy family and home life has been paramount and more than work, that is the success that I get most joy from.
Get busy livin
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy
My definition of success has changed over time.
Less about title and money, more about relationships
Successful despite some early challenges in life
/To me, being successful means...
Being happy, providing for your family, having the things you need, and being able to have some of things you want.
My definition of success has changed over time.
After getting married and having kids family vs. just work became part of my view on success. Over time I saw happiness as part of the equation as well.
Palo Alto: Always my favorite place to come home to.
/To me, being successful means...
Experiencing the love of family and friends
My definition of success has not changed over time.
Read MoreHappy with the life I have and what I have to give.
/To me, being successful means...
Feeling fulfilled, making a difference in peoples lives and in the world we live in.
My definition of success has changed over time.
I value the simple things, health, happiness, volunteering, family.
