For many of us, success was handed to us as a pre-packaged idea: climb the corporate ladder, earn a high-income salary, buy the house, drive the car, and maybe, if you have time, enjoy the fruits of your labour.

But what if that version of success isn’t actually yours?

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this while reading Sahil Bloom’s work on The 5 Types of Wealth. He describes success as more than just what’s in your bank account:

The 5 Types of Wealth:

• Financial Wealth – Money, assets, financial security.
  
• Social Wealth – Relationships, connection, community.
  
• Time Wealth – Freedom, autonomy, control over your schedule.
  
• Physical Wealth – Health, energy, vitality.
  
• Mental Wealth – Peace, joy, purpose.
  

It got me thinking – how often do we measure success by financial wealth alone, ignoring the others? And more importantly, how can we start defining success in a way that actually aligns with what we want in life?

This isn’t to say that financial wealth isn’t important, it absolutely is, especially when you’re building stability and options. Money can bring security, freedom, and peace of mind.

But if achieving financial success comes at the cost of your time, health, or relationships… is that really success?

When I talk to clients, I often notice that their definition of success has been shaped, sometimes unconsciously, by:

• Family expectations – “You should be a doctor.”
  
• Societal norms – “By 30, you should own a house.”
  
• Workplace culture – “If you’re not working 60-hour weeks, you’re not ambitious.”
  

But have you ever paused to ask yourself:
  Is this what I truly want?

So how do we step away from outdated definitions and create our own?

Here are a few reflective questions to begin with:

• What moments in your life have felt the most fulfilling?
  Were they tied to financial gain, or something deeper?
  
• If you woke up tomorrow with unlimited money, what would you do with your time?
  Would work still be part of your life?
  
• If you stripped away your job title and salary, how would you describe yourself?
  Would you still feel successful?
  

Instead of chasing a narrow definition, what if we viewed success as a portfolio?

One where financial security is just one piece – alongside time, connection, health, and inner peace.

For me, success is about impact and authenticity: doing work that aligns with my values while making space for what matters most. It’s not about how full my schedule is, but whether my time is spent in meaningful ways.

What About You?

How do you define success?
What parts of the traditional definition still resonate, and what are you ready to let go of?