Being successful means different things to different people. Not the same rules of success and accomplishments apply to everyone. In various industries, people perceive and measure success in a variety of ways.
For most of my working life I thought that being successful in the film business was to be able to work in Hollywood, to be able to get financing for films and to attend A-list film festivals. Probably this is the general rule of success in the film business, but the odds of everyone in this business making big this way are non-existing. Especially when expectations are so high from the moment you decide to be successful in this industry. The expectations that society puts on us but most of all the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves is damaging in more than one way.
I have always thought that unless I get to the top, I shouldn’t be happy and I shouldn’t celebrate my small wins and achievements. I thought that getting to where I wanted to be was the only way and path for me to be truly happy and accomplished. This limiting belief system about success, not celebrating my achievements, led me to a position where I was stuck for a very long time, unable to move forward because I didn’t know how.
Most likely my very limited success belief system cost me many working and learning opportunities because my perception of success was so one dimensional.
What I’m trying to say is that it is undoubtedly worth taking the time to decide what the success means to you and how you perceive it. It’s important to realise that there are many ways to succeed in your chosen field as long as you’re open to opportunities and the fact that life is unpredictable and throws gifts at us all the time.
So, be open and accepting; don’t waste precious time by limiting yourself to the distorted reality that has been filtered by the media, society, or your own family.
Find your own voice and follow your soul. It knows best where it’s going.
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