A friend recently found a 2007 newspaper clipping of a column I wrote called “Ask the Coach”. I thought it was worth sharing again here.

Have you truly defined success?  Is it your own definition, or what the “world” expects of you? Successful people set their own goals considering what others say, but deciding on what they want to do with their lives.

Another common difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that unsuccessful people prioritize their schedules, and successful people schedule their priorities.  Of course, the secret lies in truly knowing your priorities. Better yet, the secret is being clear about your priorities — where you are now, what you deeply desire to have, do and become.

What is of greatest importance to you right now?  Every moment you spend trying to remember or articulate what is important can cost you time, money and emotional energy. So successful people clarify what success looks like, feels like, and sounds like in their own terms. Their priorities are stabilized by balance among them and purified by strong beliefs that support them.  They make decisions and take action based on their own predetermined goals, which creates focus, direction, and ultimately a unique clarity of purpose, as well as establishes a record of integrity.  Clarity leads to commitment, and commitment leads to satisfaction, peace of mind, creativity and innovation, pleasure, influence in relationships, wealth to the degree you seek…, or however you want to define your own success.

You exist to serve. The secret to success begins with getting clear on whom, what and how you serve.