What Does Success Really Mean? A Hard-Learned Lesson

I don’t usually share my newsletter content on my blog. My newsletter is where I get more personal, where I share the behind-the-scenes struggles and insights that don’t always make it to my website. But today, I’m making an exception.

Why?

Because this story changed the way I see everything. And if you’re a solopreneur, small business owner, or just someone trying to figure out what success really means, I think it might change something for you, too.

So, I’m bringing it here—to my blog, where more of you can read it, reflect on it, and (hopefully) start redefining success on your own terms.

(And hey, if this resonates, you might want to join my newsletter. Just saying. 😉)

Are You Chasing Someone Else’s Success?

For most of my years in business, I measured success the way we’re supposed to—by how much money was coming in. And by that standard, I guess I should have felt like a success. My business has completely supported me since 2008. No side hustle, no “real job” to fall back on—just me, running my own show.

But if you had asked me back then if I felt successful? I probably would have laughed.

Because in my mind, success meant making enough money to relocate to Easy Street—that magical place where unexpected expenses didn’t make my stomach drop and I never had to wonder how I’d cover those big-ticket life moments. And no matter how well my business was doing, I was always looking for the next way to increase income, to hit that next financial goal.

I thought that was the path to real success.

Then, Thanksgiving 2020 happened.

And instead of eating turkey, I was in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, unable to do anything but sit with my thoughts. And let me tell you—when you’re forced to be still, you start seeing things really clearly.

All those years chasing money had come at a cost.
A big one.

I had spent so much time pouring energy into business growth that I hadn’t been paying attention to me. My health. My well-being. My life outside of work. And in that moment, staring at the ceiling of that hospital room, I had to ask myself a hard question:

💡 If success means running myself into the ground… is it really success at all?

That question unraveled everything.

Once I started prioritizing my health—physically, mentally, and spiritually—I had no choice but to redefine success. Because the truth is, for years I’d been chasing a version of it that wasn’t even mine.

I had let society’s definition—bigger income, bigger milestones, bigger everything—dictate how I measured my own worth. And for what? So I could be too exhausted and burnt out to enjoy any of it?

What Does Success Really Mean?

That’s when it hit me: Success isn’t just about revenue. It’s about what that revenue allows you to experience. It’s about waking up and feeling aligned with the life you’re living. It’s about building a business that supports your life—not one that consumes it.

And let’s be real—if I were in the Fortune 500? I guarantee I’d be miserable. That version of success would mean sacrificing everything I now know is truly valuable.

Redefining Success on Your Own Terms

So, let me ask you…

💡 Are you chasing a version of success that actually feels right for you? Or are you running toward someone else’s finish line?

I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below or let’s chat on LinkedIn!

And if this kind of real talk resonates with you, you’ll love my newsletter. Sign up here to get more straight-to-your-inbox insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and business wisdom that actually fits your life.

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