tara has asked me to share my thoughts about success with you this week. i’ve spent a couple days thinking about what i would share here. i started by questioning whether or not i considered myself successful. the honest truth is that i’ve always thought of myself as successful. that might sound like i’m a little full of myself, but in all honesty, i think it has more to do with my definition of success. more than anything, to me, success = happiness.
growing up, i always wanted to be a mother. i pictured myself being at home with my children, which is funny, because i always saw myself having a successful career as well. looking back, i’m not sure how i expected that to happen. i went to college, got a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, and always assumed i’d work at a design firm cranking out logos, and advertising for clients. i did just that for several years. then, purely by accident, i discovered my true passion while designing my wedding invitations. shortly after, i started marzipan inc., my own company focusing on everyday stationery. i worked every night and every weekend for the first 2 years or so to get my little company up and running while working my full-time design gig during the day. then, in january of 2004, i took my business on full-time. in 2008 i added our custom division, fin+roe. as they say, the rest is history. i was happy. happiness = success.
while my company may not always bring in the salary i would be making at a design firm, i can honestly say i’m much happier, and in my mind, more successful. sure, i work 80 hours a week for less pay. sure, it’s stressful being the boss and being responsible for running a company, managing employees, payroll, revenues, and more, but it’s mine, all mine. i’d rather work 80 hours a week for less money than work 40 hours a week for someone else. work, for me, is fun. (well, most of the time, at least when i’m not doing accounting!) i honestly LOVE what i do. i design what i like, when i like. i don’t have clients changing my designs to something that, in the end, is unrecognizable. i am happy i get to do what i love. happiness = success.
my company has also allowed me the opportunity to be with my children and watch them grow. that dream i had growing up somehow managed to happen! i have, what i think is, a successful career and i get to be with my family. of course, it has its challenges at time. trying to find time to work and raise a family isn’t always easy. i get to see them grow, raise them with the values we think are important, and listen to the hilarious things they come up with on a daily basis. i’m happy i get to be with my children. happiness = success.
how about you? are you successful? how do you define success in our life? share with us here. we’d love to hear your thoughts!
This is a WONDERFUL post! I’m in my last couple of days working full time, because as of Monday I will be working for myself. It’s scary – but I can’t imagine not giving it a try. Thanks for the great definition. I’ve asked myself a million times what defines success and this is the best I’ve ever seen!
It’s nice to see that you have accomplished one of your earliest goals. Thanks for giving us a real look inside what self-employment is about. Depending on the day and how I feel, i measure my own success differently. But I certainly agree that happiness is greatest barometer for success. Keep up the great work!
Well said Lori! Our stories are very similar. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to design and be a mom and do it all in the comfort of my pj’s!
Great post! As you know I’ve always been a little jealous of you – it’s been so clear to me that you ARE happy and comfortable with what you’ve built for yourself!
I remember when I was teaching a a local Art College a couple years ago, I was having a discussion with some students about life AFTER Art School. And someone asked me What I’d wanted to do when I was a student – what were my definitions of success? And I sat there stunned when I realized I was doing it! It’s good to step back and take stock once in awhile – and remember that where you are is a good place you’ve been striving to get to! Otherwise I’m always looking 10 steps ahead and not enjoying what I’ve already got.
Great post Lori!
When I was in my 20′s I knew a few women in their 40s that I was in awe of – they seemed smart and successful and happy. I remember thinking that I wanted to be just like them. These days I go about my daily world still thinking like the 20 year old I was then but occasionally I ‘zoom out’ and observe my life with a wider angle lens and realize that, lo and behold, I have become one of those women that I admired 20 years ago. It’s not something that I think about too much though – I’m so superstitious, I might jinx something!
love your post so much lori! thanks for sharing so eloquently!
Lori, I just read this and loved it. Of course I think you’re super talented and successful, so it was nice to see how you see and define your success. Thanks for inspiring me to think about how I define success!
you inspire me, lori.