The Studio Source.com

I’ll go right to the punch line: if you define yourself by what other people have, you’ll be miserable.

The big problem with that way of thinking may not be so obvious: you don’t really know what other people have. You’re relying on your own assumptions, which can be seriously flawed. Someone who has a fat paycheque (or nice car, or gorgeous partner, et cetera) isn’t necessarily happy. Or healthy. So forget about it.

When you decide how you want to make a living, you also get to choose what success looks like. Some people define success as big salary, and the prestige that goes with it. Some want flexibility to spend more time with their families. For others, success means doing something they’re passionate about.

How I define success, and out myself in the process
At the time of this writing, I have a very tiny business. I started it out of serious financial necessity, with very specific criteria. It had to be non-toxic and fit in a corner of my very small house; I had to make a minimum amount of money; it had to be flexible to accommodate a number of other responsibilities.

It has wildly exceeded my goals. I call that success.

Maybe you’re already running a business or professional creative practice, or maybe you’re just starting out. It doesn’t matter. If you’re beating yourself up because you don’t have as much money, or skill, or whatever, as someone else, take a step back, give your head a shake, and figure out what you want. Write it down, if you’re the writing-down type.

In my next post, I’m going to tell you to take a good look at your competition. It’s not what you think.