When reaching for a goal, you need to know what you are aiming for. If you don’t, how will you know when you’ve achieved it? Nearly everyone wants to be successful, but few people take the time to determine what success means to them. Many people talk about being financially and professionally successful, but most of us would agree that there is more to life than that. So, how do you create your own definition of success? 

Defining success starts with defining your values. Ask yourself what is most important to you. Only once you clearly define your values can you start to tackle what a successful life would look life for you. 

For example, if you say that family is the most important part of your life, but then you neglect them to climb the career ladder, you aren’t living by your values. Furthermore, once you reach a certain point in your career where you are considered “successful,” you may feel like a personal failure because you’ll have missed out on irretrievable time with your family. To avoid this situation, start by clarifying all of your values.

Once you’ve determined your core values, write them down. Then, you can begin to form goals around them. If work and family are both important to you (as they are for most of us), make sure that your goals include working toward success in both areas.

There may be seasons in your life where you must spend more time at work than you would like. That type of sacrifice may be required to achieve your career goals. However, if you’re committed to succeeding at home, as well as at work, you will be less likely to allow this situation to become a way of life. Instead, you’ll be more likely to balance your time between both priorities.

No one wants to reach the end of their life and realize they have been spending their time aiming for goals that didn’t actually mean anything to them. Rather, we want to look back and realize we prioritized our schedules and achieved the goals that were in line with our true values. Determine your values and create your own definition of success — then let that be the compass of your life.