Redefining Success
Written by Alicia Wolfe, co-founder
I recently had the honor of being a guest on the Clarified: Countdown to 40 Podcast. In preparation for this conversation, I was reflecting more deeply on what success means.
My version of success has evolved dramatically from my 20s and even my early 30’s compared to now.
For much of my early adulthood, my success was defined by external markers: degrees, promotions, raises, and societal accolades. And while these achievements had their place, what I hadn’t even considered was whether those were MY definitions of success, or if I had inherited them from those around me.
If you asked me in my 20’s how I would define success, I would have said, climbing the corporate ladder, big paycheck, living in a big city, etc. (It’s so funny to compare that to my life now living in the jungle at the end of the road)
Core Values: A New Foundation
The turning point came when I began to explore my core values. These guiding principles became a foundation for making choices that aligned with who I truly am and the life I want to live. They’ve acted as a compass, steering me toward purpose and intention rather than obligation or external validation.
Core values help us clarify what truly matters. For me, they emphasize connection, personal responsibility, and a sense of ease. Living in alignment with these values doesn’t mean life is perfect or free from challenges, but it does mean that my choices feel purposeful.
Designing a Life
And in 2019, I met a woman named Susanne Conrad who taught me that I could keep living my life as is and it would likely be fine OR I could start examining what success truly meant to me and begin designing a life around that.
After examining my sea of beliefs and determining which of those beliefs were truly mine versus the ones I was ready to release, I created a vision statement of a moment in time where I was experiencing my chosen future. And it didn’t look anything like how I was currently living…
A few year later, my husband and I quit our corporate jobs, sold our home and everything we own, and took our daughters traveling around the world, in pursuit of a life that felt more aligned to our values and the vision we had created.
Listening to Your Body and Intuition
Our bodies are incredible indicators of whether we’re living in alignment with our values. Feelings of stress, exhaustion, or dissatisfaction can often signal a misalignment. By slowing down and listening, we can make adjustments that lead to greater ease and satisfaction, and ultimately alignment.
If we can slow down and be quiet enough to listen, we can sense if we are living in alignment or, often more obviously, out of alignment. For me, this has meant tuning into my energy levels, noticing what brings me joy, and recognizing when it’s time to pause, reassess, or pivot.
Practical Tips for Redefining Success
If you’re on your own journey to redefine success, here are a few steps to consider:
Identify Your Core Values
Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you. Consider what brings you joy, fulfillment, and pride. This is a great tool to guide you.Evaluate Your Life Choices
Are your current decisions and habits aligned with your values? If not, what changes can you make?Embrace Flexibility
Success is not a fixed concept. Allow yourself the freedom to evolve and redefine it as you grow.Listen to Yourself
Trust your intuition and pay attention to how your body responds to your choices.Write Your Version of Success
My teacher Mary-Lyn asked me last week, “How do you define success?” After pausing, closing my eyes, my response was this:
slow mornings
time spent with my daughters
ease as I move throughout my day
the ability to choose how I spend me time
building and being in community of inspiring individuals
making a positive impact on people around me
It has nothing to do with a job title, a salary, or what others think.
Redefining success is a deeply personal journey, but it’s one worth embarking on. As I’ve learned, success isn’t just about achieving—it’s about aligning, feeling, and living in a way that honors who we are at our core.
What does success mean to you? It’s a question worth asking, and the answers might just change your life.
Listen to the Clarified: Countdown to 40 Podcast Episode here.