How to Have a Successful Career and a Fulfilling
Personal Life
Several years ago, after years of trying, my husband and I
became parents to 3 kids within 19 months. I became fiercely determined to have
a totally fulfilling life as a mom, and be very present for my kids, and also
reach really big career goals. That was my definition of having it all – and I
was on fire to figure out how to make it happen. I quickly discovered I wasn’t
alone. In fact, many people are seeking a sense of balance in their lives. As
Stephen Covey says,
“The challenge of work-life balance is without question, one of
the most significant struggles faced by modern man.”
It can be incredibly difficult to feel a sense of balance when
we are juggling careers, personal responsibilities, family time, self-care,
recreational activities, social time, community service, and more.
I knew in order to achieve huge career goals and also be a very
hands-on, present mom, I would need to streamline my life. I would need to
eliminate the non-essential activities I was doing. I would need to cut out the
time-sucking, empty activities like mindlessly scrolling through social media
or checking email a million times per day, and be very intentional with my time
every day. Each and every day, it would be important to tell my time where to
go.
It required significant focus on my priorities, and a ruthless
elimination of many time-sucking activities, but I stuck with my determination
to achieve career success and also a fulfilling personal life, and I made it
happen. By being very focused and purposeful about where I spent my time and
energy, I achieved the elusive sense of balance, and now I help other
entrepreneurs and driven professionals achieve it too.
People who have achieved fulfilling, successful lives have
specific habits. While most people find it very difficult to be amazing and
satisfied both at work and in their personal lives, the successful, fulfilled
people know it’s not impossible. Learn from the habits of successful and fulfilled
people to reach higher levels of fulfilling success:
1. Have clarity
about what you want
Successful, fulfilled people know exactly what they want to
achieve. They know what’s important to them and set crystal clear targets to
aim for in their careers and lives. These people don’t have vague aspirations.
Instead, they set very specific goals that align with their priorities, and
they direct their time and efforts toward achieving these goals.
2. Define success
on your terms
Successful, fulfilled people define success their own way. They
understand they can only be satisfied if they achieve success that truly
matters to them. While they appreciate the value of hard work, their definition
of a successful life is often more holistic than just achieving financial
results.
3. Stand your
ground
Successful, fulfilled people understand the importance of saying
“no.” They set boundaries so they can focus their lives and work on what
matters most. They avoid falling prey to enticing goals that don’t align with
their true purpose, priorities, and passions.
4. Be highly
productive
Successful, fulfilled people know how to get things done. They
know in order to have “it all” and balance their careers and personal lives,
they need to avoid wasting time. When they aspire to do something, they get it
done.
5. Be strategic
with time
Successful, fulfilled people are intentional with their time.
They strategically fit their work into their ideal lifestyle. As a result,
their hard-earned success doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Try to perceive time differently and you will start to make
every second count..
6. Make decisions
confidently
Successful, fulfilled people powerfully make decisions. They
make choices that align with who they are and what they truly want. They
courageously turn down opportunities that don’t line up with their values.
7. Know your
priorities
Successful, fulfilled people have clarity about their
priorities. They work hard, but avoid a “succeed at all costs” mentality. While
they achieve great results in their careers, they also are high performers in
the other areas of life that matter to them.
8. Don’t get
jealous of others
Successful, fulfilled people congratulate and praise the
achievements of others. They don’t feel threatened by the success of others.
Instead, they are happy to create their own version of success and they greatly
enjoy their lifestyle.
9. Be disciplined
Successful, fulfilled people know they are in charge of creating
their best lives. They realize that ultimately, they are in control of what
they do with their lives, and they accept this power. They see the vision of
who they want to be and they stick to their plan.
10. Know how to
delegate
Successful, fulfilled people declutter their lives. They
delegate tasks at work and in their personal lives. As a result, they can enjoy
more time freedom and do more of what they love.
Going alone doesn’t work.
11. Be grateful but
not complacent
Successful, fulfilled people appreciate what they have. However,
they also strive to achieve more of what truly matters. They do this because
they know they will use their success to make a positive impact on the world.
A fulfilling life
is not an aspiration, but an everyday habit
Building habits takes time but you can start with these small
things:
Get clear about
your priorities.
Who do you most want to be? What do you want your life to be
like? These questions can be tough and can be an evolving process, but when you
are clear about what matters most to you, you can start eliminating the
activities that don’t align with what matters most.
Write out a
schedule for your day.
When you tell your time where to go, you can decrease the time
spent on time-sucking, empty activities. Being intentional with your time can
help you achieve your career and personal goals.
Decrease the noise.
We are bombarded every day by thousands of distractions that
threaten to take our time away from what matters most. Very simple (yet not
always easy) strategies such as shutting off our phones, or only checking email
at set times, can help us be more present, productive, and fulfilled.
Achieving high levels of career success while having a
satisfying personal life is definitely possible. I’ve done it, and so can you.
Dr. Kerry Petsinger
https://www.lifehack.org/632646/how-to-have-a-successful-career-and-a-fulfilling-personal-life
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