Balancing Work & Life - Assessing Success

To be successful in your work and life, you must be clear about what success is. Clarify your values and goals, and understand that success is not just about hard work and no play.

Chapter 1 - Understanding Success

To create a balance between the demands of your work and your life, you need to examine what success means to you. Start by clarifying your values, purpose, roles, and attitudes so that you have something to measure your achievements against.

Defining success

People often work hard to gain "success" without knowing what success really means. You may climb a career ladder, but are you fulfilled by your work? Do you have a good home life? We receive differing messages about success - thorough the media, our families, and our culture. But ultimately, success comes from leading a fulfilled and balanced life. Begin to balance your work and life more effectively.

Aiming for success

The " 3S" formula will help you consider the key factors in a work-life balance.

• The 1st "S" = Success - begin to form criteria of what success means to you.
• The 2nd "S" = Strategy - start to form a workable plan to achieve a balance between work and life.
• The 3rd "S" = Synergy - make sure you focus on relationships and creative cooperation with those around you. Aim to be a team player and a good communicator.

Clarifying values

To define success, start by clarifying your values. Schedule time alone and think about what is most important to you: -

• What kind of partner do you want to be?
• What kind of son or daughter?
• What kind of friend and manager?
• What difference would you like to make in people's lives?

Put your values at the center of your life so that you can retain greater balance, vision, and happiness in every area of your life.

Pinpoint your purpose so that you have real direction,

Questions to ask yourself

• What aspects of my life am I most passionate about?
• Is being a parent the most important aspect of my life?
• Have I recognized what motivates me?§ What are my unique talents and my strengths?
• What purpose would I like to give my work and my life?

Seeing the BIG picture

The BIG picture is your overall vision of your vision of your work and life. It includes your values, goals, and roles. Invest time in developing your vision. Allow your imagination free rein and picture your ideal life. Picture the key people in your life - your family, friends, colleagues, and customers; and imagine all these relationships working well. Visualize your ideal work and your ideal leisure time. Write down the essence of your BIG picture.

Recognizing success as a "state of mind"

Success is an attitude, and not just a set of achievements or financial gain. If this were not the case, then every high achiever would consider themselves successful. But if fact, may rich, famous and accomplished people have material success but do not actually feel truly successful or fulfilled. Understand that success is not just found in outer things, but is located within yourself. Cultivate success as "state of mind" so that you stop chasing false goals and expectations, and start living your life focused on what matters to you.

1. Think about what success means to you - be honest with yourself.
2. Set time aside every day to focus on your values, and ensure that you remain true to them.
3. Make the time to create a picture of your ideal life.
4. Develop a positive attitude towards achieving success.
5. Involve your family in the development of your vision.