When you think about leadership success what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Many people will probably say the visible markers – titles, financial gains, and awards. Over time, I’ve realized that these conventional indicators, while rewarding, only scratch the surface of true success.
There is nothing wrong with setting goals and being able to achieve them. So, why should we broaden our definition of success, and how can mentoring help? Let’s explore.
Key Takeaways
- Mentorship turns success into a lasting legacy by contributing to others’ growth and development.
- Leadership involves constant growth and helping others develop, fostering a learning culture.
- Even seasoned leaders have doubts if they have what it takes to be a mentor.
- Shifting focus from individual achievements to collective development enhances life and leadership fulfillment.
What is Success?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, success is, “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose”. In the marketplace, this usually means reaching the top level of your profession, receiving awards, money, and maybe even fame.
Early in my career, I was also guilty of thinking that’s all there was to success. Each time I reached a goal, I’d move the goalpost. Everything became about reaching that finish line. I would focus on the result to the detriment of the journey.
The Risk of a Narrow View of Success
The problem when looking at success this way is it can be empty. What happens when there are no more goals to reach?
Take Simone Biles, for example, an Olympic athlete with a record-breaking 37 world championships and Olympic medals. She was only 23 when she won her first Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016. Her recent documentary on Netflix, “Simone Biles Rising”, talks about the aftermath of what happened four years later, during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo where she had a mental breakdown.
She became overly skilled and prepared at her craft but her mind wasn’t in it. It became about always winning, never failing. The joy and fulfillment she once had in doing those routines became a burden.
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
John C. Maxwell
You might be thinking, “Okay, but what has that got to do with me?”. Well if you think about it, she reached the peak of her career as an athlete at 23. So what else could be considered a success? Breaking more records and winning more medals?
That’s great, and she did do those things but if you ask me the reason behind her breakdown was a lack of finding significance in it all.
Significance Over Achievement
When you reach the peak of your career it’s only natural to think about what comes next. Usually, this takes place in the second half of life and it’s a natural transition process.
I’ve experienced this a few times, especially being an entrepreneur, and more recently when founding Beyond Your Shadow. I was the Founder and CEO of Fully Accountable, a full-service outsourced accounting back office solution for e-commerce and tech-enabled companies throughout North America.
As the end of my journey there got closer I started to struggle with the uncertainty of what was next. Luckily I’ve got some great people in my corner who are always ready with reality-shaking advice. One of my dearest friends on the planet, Jeff Bogue said to me “Vinnie make sure you are running to something, not from something.”
That was tough to hear, but he was so right. So I would like to offer the same advice to you: As you consider transitions, career changes, and big relationship decisions, are you running from something, or to something?
You can and should add other metrics to the definition of success. Without them, you’ll be longing for something that is missing. Being successful, especially in leadership, isn’t just about your achievements but also about the impact you may have on others.
Finding the significance within your success is just as important as success itself.
Be a Mentor: Transform Your Success into a Lasting Legacy
Through those struggles, I began to search for a way to help other leaders who were going through this. That is how I chose to find significance in the next chapter of my career.
Beyond Your Shadow was created to mentor leaders who want to become a mentor themselves through leadership multiplication. The basic principle of this mindset is your continuous growth and contribution to someone else’s.
One of the biggest issues in the marketplace is people who are lost and need guidance. So why not transform all your wisdom into a leadership legacy with a purpose?
Well, I’ve talked to a lot of people about this trying to understand how I can build something that will help them. Would you believe if I told you most seasoned leaders would never consider themselves good or experienced enough?
You may even feel it yourself. But I’m here to assure you that is not true. There is always someone who knows less than you about something. This is where your role as a mentor makes the greatest impact. Your accumulated skills and experience bring immense value to others and can help them become better leaders.
In mentoring, you provide a guiding light, a source of wisdom, and a wealth of knowledge that can transform lives. Every challenge you’ve overcome, and every lesson you’ve learned can catalyze someone else’s success.
So shift the narrative from an individual to a collective focus. Value the development and well-being of others. We’re launching our first event in the fall, and we’d love it if you’d join us.
I promise you that you will start to see and experience fulfillment that cannot be achieved by the traditional measurements of success.
About Beyond Your Shadow
At Beyond Your Shadow, we believe that true leadership extends far beyond the accolades and achievements of the present – it’s about creating a lasting impact that continues to inspire and guide, even when the leader is no longer in the spotlight.
Check out our YouTube videos to know more about us.