Challenging Flashy Financial-Focused Wins Flooding Instagram
Today, we’re diving into a topic that hits close to home for so many of us: what does success really mean to you? This is something I’ve been reflecting on, especially after a little Instagram rant last week. You know the feeling—scrolling through social media and seeing business coaches only highlight their financial wins. Don’t get me wrong, financial success is great. We’re in business, we want to grow our finances, and we love those wins. But it seems like financial growth is often the only measure of success we see from the big wig gurus.
Is Money Everything? Spoiler: It’s Not
Here’s the thing: making money is important, but it’s not the only thing that defines success. It’s actually easier to make money in other ways, like taking a regular job, right? So today, I want to walk you through what success might truly mean to you—not just on the surface, but deep down.
Chasing the Corporate Dream: My First ‘Aha’ Moment
In the corporate world, success is often about climbing the ladder—getting the next promotion, the bigger office, the better title. For many of us millennials, that’s what we were taught. College was almost non-negotiable because it was supposed to open doors to that corporate dream. For a while, I bought into that idea. In 2013, I landed a huge job, moved to a different state, doubled my income and responsibilities, and became an executive assistant. I even helped open a brand-new resort, which is a big deal in the hospitality industry.
The problem: I had no life. I barely saw the sun, could only take care of myself at the bare minimum, and realized that the money and titles weren’t enough. This was my first big aha moment.
Taking a Step Back: My Biggest Career ‘Downgrade’ That Paid Off
Around the same time, Jeff and I were dating long-distance. I was in Virginia, he was in Florida, and it just wasn’t working. Long distance is tough. I wanted to get back to Florida but stay with the company I’d invested so much in.
I took a massive pay cut and a lower title—essentially, from the outside looking in, a huge step back in my career. But you know what? It was one of my favorite jobs and one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with. It was worth it to be closer to Jeff, to have weekends off, and to work in a job that made me happy. It was a little hit to my ego at first, but that job gave me so much more than money or a title ever could.
Hidden Costs of Chasing Profits
The online space is no different. Money matters, of course—we’re not here to give everything away for free. But as a business owner, I can’t prioritize money above all else, especially now that I have kids. When I first got into the online space, I, like so many others, was convinced that making a million dollars quickly was the goal. I’ve seen people burn out or build businesses that are profitable, but suffocating.
Now, my decisions are based on how they’ll affect my lifestyle, time, and space for my other priorities, like taking care of myself and my marriage. Does a new project make me happy and excited? If not, it’s probably not worth pursuing. Time freedom and control over my schedule were big reasons I started my online business, but it’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re constantly on your phone or cramming your calendar with calls.
Redefine Your Criteria for Measuring Success
When you think about success, close your eyes and picture your entire lifestyle—your day, your week, your month. For me, success means making money, yes, but it also means working out consistently, volunteering for my kids’ field trips, and having my weekends and evenings free. It means saying no to clients who aren’t a good fit, because nothing excites me more than working with clients I love, who are doing good in the world, and who I want to help succeed. I don’t want to work with people I wouldn’t be friends with in real life. I’ve had too many difficult coworkers in the past, and I refuse to bring that into my business.
Align Your Business Priorities with Your Life Values
What does success look like for you? What are your priorities outside of making money in your business? Is your business set up to allow room for those priorities? Are your financial and lifestyle goals aligned with how you want to show up every day? One of the first questions I ask when someone comes to me with a new idea is: how does this align with your overall priorities? You’d be surprised how much easier decisions become when money isn’t the only focus.
Take it a step further and make it personal. Success is different for everyone. I have a client who measures success by her ability to pay it forward and bless others financially—something she never could have done before. For me, success will eventually include supporting or running a charity focused on the postpartum period, because I know how important that time is.
Take Action: Realign Your Priorities Today
Ask yourself, “What decisions am I making today that impact my overall priorities?” If you’re unsure what those priorities are, it’s time to sit down, journal, and think about it. Is your business driven solely by financial gain? If it is, what’s secondary to that? What else is important when you measure success?
Think about it. If you want to share, you know where to find me on Instagram. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If all of this sounds like something you’re like, “Yes, Giana, I need accountability to consider how my decisions in business reflect my priorities,” you belong in Hustle House and you can find more information here.
Or, if you’re like, “I also want support strategizing and creating a clear plan to implement a new offer suite aligned with my priorities,” so that you can start feeling like you can actually make the money you want in your business without giving away all of your time, then you need Offer Suite Build Out. Click here to learn more.
Read these blog posts for strategies you can implement to redefine success and align your business priorities to support your life values:
