Career Secret #1: Define Your Terms

We mistakenly think only the super-successful get to work on their own terms.  The real secret to success is quite the opposite.  Here’s how I learned that valuable lesson…

During my 7 years hosting a career talk show on SiriusXM, I interviewed Deepak Chopra.  I was a fan and aspired to be like him – motivating people with wisdom about new ways of thinking and being.  He possessed the kind of life and lifestyle I wanted and attained a level of success that offered him control to work on his own terms.

When asked about what a day in the life was like Deepak said that he gets up every morning, meditates and works out and then looks at his schedule for the day.  If everything on there doesn’t bring him joy, he doesn’t do it.

My response: “I can’t wait until I’m that successful to be able to have that kind of control over my life and my time.”

Deepak’s response: “How do you think I got this successful?”

And there you have it.  We don’t get to some magical day where all of the sudden we are a success and our time is our own to manage the way we want.  We find success when we define what brings us joy and we make sure that’s what our days are comprised of.

We all have different requirements when it comes to how we want to work, where and when.  We need to be the ones taking the time to Soul Search and understand what each of us needs to be most successful – what schedule we want, what role we thrive in, what type of work brings us joy.  Then it’s up to us to make each day reflect what we want by making the right choices.  That is how you will become super-successful in your own right too.

It’s not selfish to work on your own terms.  It’s the best career move you can make.  Try it.  You’ll see that inspiration, stellar ideas and results come most easily when you work in the ways that work best FOR YOU.  Get a jump start on your Soul Search with my upcoming career empowerment webinar (5/16/15).  Find out more and sign up here (special discount ends 4/30/15).

“To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying “Amen” to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.” ~Robert Louis Stevenson