What does a successful career mean to you?

Career success is subjective. It means different things to you than it does to your colleagues. It depends on your values, life and career experiences, and life stage.

Career success begins by defining your purpose and your “north star.”

Where do you want to head with your career?

You’ll only be successful when you know what you want out of your career.

Many things help you define your career path, including mentors, career counselors, friends, and family. Defining what career success means will require soul-searching and may change over time.

For example, success early in your career entails promotions, recognition, and demonstrating your competence to others. In the middle of your job, success involves financial stability, building high-quality relationships, and maintaining healthy habits.

Later in your career, success is about the quality of life. You experience less work travel and enjoy a good work-life balance, setting your own work hours.

5 signs you have a successful career

Here are five signs that your career is going well. These will help you understand where you are on your journey to career success.

1. You have developed a lot of marketable skills and certifications

You are more successful than you realize if you have the necessary skills and have earned relevant certifications. Your certifications show employers and professional peers that you are qualified and take your career seriously.

Certifications help you market yourself, look great on your LinkedIn profile, and advance your career.

With marketable skills and certifications, you have built a foundation for long-term employment. You can overcome any career setbacks or challenges.

These skills and certifications help you build on your strengths and help you become your best.

A successful career lets you be proud of your accomplishments. It positions you in a way that shows your best and brightest part.

This is a sign of success. You can discover yourself along your journey. You have developed many skills that demonstrate your success.

2. Your days fly by

If you are in a job you love, time will fly by. This happens because you have meaning and purpose, which are signs of personal career success.

Unsuccessful people are filled with daily boredom and count the hours as they stare at the clock.

When you are dedicated to a job, time goes by quickly because you have much to do. You are excited to work on your next project. You are enthusiastic about waking up and checking off your to-do list.

3. Your colleagues will help you

Your work colleagues go out of their way to help you on a project. They also support your ideas at work. When they do, you are more successful than you think you are. 

Successful people build strong professional relationships.

When you have buy-in from people around you, you will be successful.

You are successful when you can persuade those around you. If your professional peers help you, it demonstrates that you are effective at your job. When people want you on their team, you are talented and valuable.

4. You say “no” to others and don’t feel bad about it

You have reached a point in your career where you are comfortable being uncomfortable. Saying “no” to work you are not passionate about is something you can do. =

When you are successful in your career, you won’t experience consequences for saying “no.” And you won’t think twice about it.

You can say no whenever you have established yourself in your career and aligned your time with your values.

You know how to set boundaries and dedicate time to each part of your life.

5. You have a passion and purpose

When you are successful, you know what you want, and you have the energy to pursue it. You have a passion and purpose that lead to fulfillment and happiness. 

Happiness leads to more success.

The work feels lighter when you are passionate about your job. The workdays seem shorter. You feel energized in other parts of your life and operate at full capacity. You have taken very positive steps.

Bringing it all together

There are five main signs that you have a successful career.

• You have developed a lot of marketable skills and certifications
• Your days fly by
• Your colleagues will help you
• You say “no” to others and don’t feel bad about it
• You have a passion and purpose

Remember, success doesn’t lead to happiness, but happiness leads to success.

When you think about your career success, think about your happiness and momentum.

Both are significant factors in measuring your success. Once you build your momentum in your career and start growing it, you gain a considerable advantage.

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