CPACareerCoach.com

rfukill on flickr.com

No doubt for most professionals, the recession has caused each of us to scratch our head at one time or another. For a few people real panic has even moved into the spare bedroom.

How you define success will make or break you moving forward.

If your eyes and mind are on the “glory days” when improving the bottom line was easy and gaining clients was a cinch, then you are in for a challenge. Those that always look back, will only make excuses about the future. Those who can put away the past and make a new definition of success will see opportunity. So, here is my new simple definition of success:

“Success is doing the best you can with what you have where you are.”

Let that sink in. As someone else once said: “Success is as unique as your fingerprint.” Think about this: don’t you find it ironic that some people who have so much do so little and others who have so little do so much. If you are not careful, the recession can allow you to release the “Excuse Monster.” We have every external reason why we can’t. Excuses are lies that you tell yourself.

There is on common denominator in all successful people. They can spot an opportunity a mile away. They are not living with excuses and their eyes are wide open.

So, I want to leave you with a 7 day challenge. For the next week let this be your new definition of success: “Success = Giving My Best Effort Daily.” When you the to the end of the work day, rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10. If you are not a ten, ask yourself, “What would it take to get to a ten?”

Bottom line: stop letting the economy define your definition of success and make your own internal definition that can catapult your career.