How Success is Measured?

Maximus during his very own book media week! 📚

I’d like to introduce you to the inspiration behind my latest literary work, Miles With Maximus. During our media week, I was asked quite a bit, “why write a book about mindfulness from a canine’s perspective?” To answer this question, I needed two back up to my previous book, ELEVATE, where I discuss creating your own version of success.

Waiting in a bookstore near you or online!

So often we let the world—society—tell us what success is and looks like. To be successful we must take certain steps and hit certain levels. I started out in my adulthood this way! Wait—let’s back up further… I got my first paying job at 16 years old because I wanted my own spending money. My definition of success, as a 16-year old was paying for what I wanted to purchase. When my parents got me a car to drive, I wanted money to pay for the gas it needed to get me where I wanted to go. Even then, I knew that money equaled freedom.

I moved into my adulthood with this definition of success: earn money to gain freedom. Paying my bills felt great! After earning enough money, I knew I would be successful if I just finished my education and got my degree to get a higher paying job. That’s how most people around me (if not all) said it worked. Start earning some money, while gaining your degree, then find a good company where you can build tenure. I never thought to question it.

Following these steps served me well, so I thank all of those well-meaning advisors I had in my life. If you read, ELEVATE, you know that before I hit 30 years old, this pathway and these steps didn’t work for me. I had money. I had freedom. I had friends. I wasn't fulfilled. I didn’t feel successful because I longed for other things like time flexibility and travel. I wasn’t able to travel for fun as often as I wanted to. I loved my work, but I had to go into an office every day at a certain time, that was too early for me. I also had to stay later than I wanted, some times. On these days, I longed to work in another industry, so I could have more time freedom.

One of my best decisions—marrying this fellow travel guru who values flexibility..

For the sake of this post, I want to bring us back here to my Doberman, Maximus, and the book he inspired me to write. For the past decade, I’ve felt authentically successful. I built a career for myself that gives me the time flexibility I desired. (I don’t take many client meetings before 10am!) My home offices (in the beach home and city home we discuss in Miles With Maximus) both allow for the Pruett Pups to sit at my feet, and I am able to say no when needed, and “hell yes” when I get inspired.

I pray over each copy I sign and send to VIP readers. This never EVER gets old to me.

When the opportunity came to accept a new contract, with a high profile client, that would allow me to expand my audience and my financial return, I declined. For the next six months, I would need to visit customers in various states, away from home. At 46-years old, I managed to also build a family and home life that I love. Money is no longer the motivator for my continued success. Currently, my definition of success is measured by how much time I have for family and friends. I measure how well my business is doing by how well it travels with me.

Both of my coastal, boating doggies. Always up for another adventure.

Next season of life, my definition of success may change again (it probably will). Perhaps the measure of success is just that—how fulfilled do you feel during your days? Are you able to do the things that light you up most of the day? Are you able to spend time with people you love or enjoy being around? Are you able to pay your bills and have some extra to play with or save? The cool thing is that it’s only up to YOU to define.

If I could chat with little 16-year old Lacey, here’s what I would say: Find work you enjoy while you earn enough money to pay any bills you have and have a little extra. In the beginning, put that extra in savings until you have the amount needed to buy new tires. (A story for another time.) Take college seriously! Have fun, but make the grades and the relationships that align with the life you dream about. If someone or something doesn’t feel right, walk away or say no to it. It doesn’t matter what he/she says, go with that intuition of yours—it is powerful. You’ll learn more about this later, too. Oh by the way, dreamer bigger little Lacey. There’s a big world out there you don’t yet know about. I’m proud of you for never smoking, never being curious about illegal drugs, and not getting married in your 20s. Each of those decisions shape who you are in your 40s. Finally, I want you to know you are already a raving success, right where you are. Stay on your path.

Paying my bills still feels amazing, and I am grateful for the choices made to get me to the point where I can take my dogs with me to work meetings and media appearances to share our books and online courses. After all, they are part of the reason I continue to do the work I do.

Your turn. How do you define success right now? I want to know! Send me a note at lacey@laceypruett.com or message me on Instagram/Facebook. Let’s chat about it!

Thank you for reading my book and mom’s blog!