How Do I Measure Success as a Young Creative?
So, you’re hustling to make your business dreams a reality, but how do you know if you’re really killing it? Success is more than just money in the bank, especially for someone like you starting out.
First off, think about your customers. If they’re happy and keep coming back, that’s a win. Ask them what they like, listen to feedback, and see if they’re spreading the word about your awesome products or services. Your customers are part of your circle of influence. Invite them to follow you on social media and engage them there as well. While social media following is important, it’s not the end-all, be-all. So be sure to engage IRL too.
Then, there’s your team. If you’ve got a crew that enjoys working with you and sticks around, that’s a sign of success too. Teamwork makes the dream work! Creating a cool workplace where everyone feels valued is a big win. Some people to follow on Instagram include: @jayshetty (Jay Shetty), @lewishowes (Lewis Howes), @myleik (Myleik Teele) and @devibrown (Devi Brown)
And don’t forget about personal growth. Learning from mistakes, figuring out new stuff, and setting and reaching your goals – that’s success on a personal level. Every step forward is a victory. Success isn’t a lack of challenges…it’s how you work through them, with grace, persistence, creativity and even gratitude. We’ve covered this topic in more depth in my previous blog “How to Be Consistent When Life is Unpredictable.”
And yes, success can mean money in the bank. It’s great to have financial goals: owning your own house, taking care of your family, even treating your friends to a good meal, going on a vacation or buying great threads…those are all great things to shoot for.
But it’s important to understand money vs. value. It’s natural for you to think about the short term, but see if you can extend your vision to five years, ten years out, and look at that layer of success. Oftentimes, it’s better to own Nike stock, rather than three pairs of Nike kicks. Learn to save and invest. If you’re in debt, work to reduce and eliminate it. (Check out “Financial Independence – Retire Early” (FIRE) strategies for ways to reduce your expenses and make the most of the money coming in).
In order to make $90,000 a year, that breaks down to earning about $300 a day. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Challenge yourself to increase your inflows. Beef up your marketing skills. Take on a side gig. Increasing your income is not an all-or-none proposition. And diversifying your financial picture is actually a best practice: it’s never good to have all your eggs in one basket, as they say. Some people like to create spreadsheets or hand-drawn charts to track their progress. (Read this classic book, Your Money or Your Life.)
As you hustle through your entrepreneurial journey, remember it’s not just about the money. It’s about happy customers, a great team, and becoming the best version of yourself. That’s how you know you’re really rocking it!