Success comes as a result of sacrifices. Giving certain things up to grow allows us to achieve more in our lives. But sometimes the sacrifices that are required are too great a price to pay.
As we decide what parts of our lives we want to change to experience more; more health, more love, more wealth, more peace, we also need to put boundaries on what we will sacrifice to achieve that. One of our Success Coaching clients recognized his boundaries and enjoys the extra accountability keeping him focused on his priorities. We joined his story as he steps into a new Director level role for a rapidly growing company, providing the promise of substantial career growth, and compensation to go with it. The allure of riches distracts many from the other pillars of their lives.
And this focus on career success and the pursuit of financial riches has cost many a man and woman their relationships; both family and friendships. But the cost is often higher than that. Many times we can witness those excelling to the top of their field with shaky foundations; poor exercise regimes, unhealthy eating habits, controlling stress with alcohol or tobacco. As we define success for ourselves, these crumbling pillars of success are hardly the inspiring vision we have. So where do we go wrong? Simply put, we sacrifice too much.
Understanding what is important to you, and making those areas non-negotiable means you won’t risk building your success on shaky foundations. What does that look like? As we rejoin our coaching client, his success looks like; devoted time to his family each week, a non-negotiable dedication to his fitness, and healthy stress-management practices. These areas of his life are most important to him, and anything that would require him to sacrifice them is asking too high a price, regardless of the promised reward.
This is why our Success Coaching program was designed to keep you accountable not only to your goals, but also to your boundaries. Knowing what you are sacrificing to enable growth will help you determine if the trade is worth making. We all need balance and boundaries; what is worth sacrificing to achieve more, and what is not. You can't walk the path of success if your health and relationships are crumbling all around you. That is why it is essential to keep track of all that you are doing, and all that you need to do to keep the boat the right way up. That chest of gold does no good in a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean!
As we strive for greater success, we need to make sacrifices, trade-offs that help us become more than we currently are. But before we get caught up in the pursuit of success, we also need to establish our boundaries. What are you willing to trade in, to sacrifice for more success? And what aren’t you?
Action Item:
Take some time this week to decide what your boundaries are. What are your non-negotiables? What are you not willing to give up, no matter what the promised reward is? Write these down. Commit to them, and as you achieve success, you’ll find yourself living that vision of your ideal future.